BREAKING | Gatwech’s forces detain Wau County commissioner after ‘provocative’ mission

JUBA – South Sudan opposition forces belonging to de facto SPLM-IO leader General Simon Gatwech Dual have announced that they have captured the commissioner of Wau County in Western Bahr el Ghazal state claiming that the top local government official has been involved in what they term as provocative missions.

In a statement, Brigadier General William Gatjiath Deng, the spokesman of the Kitgwang faction of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition (SPLM/SPLA-IO), said Josento Matia Mboro was captured in a convoy of three vehicles heading to an opposition military barrack located at Bagari Payam without informing the opposition authorities there.

“Today this afternoon East African Time, the Commissioner of Wau by name, Josento was caught in ambush this afternoon along with three cars and the mission was not known to the SPLA (IO) forces deployed in the area. Therefore, the commissioner was heading direct to the SPLA (IO) area which located at ‘Bagari military garrison’. On their way to Bagari barrack, the SPLA (IO) of Lion division under command of Lt/Gen Benson intercepted the mission and made an ambush which managed to capture the commissioner and his cohorts in the bush,” Gatjiath said in the statement extended to Sudans Post.

While it remains unclear which faction of the SPLA-IO is in control of the opposition barrack at Bagari, the SPLA-IO faction led by General Simon Gatwech Dual claimed that it is in control and that the opposition commander of the SPLA-IO’s sector seven has been directed by General Gatwech to release the commissioner and then warned government officials against making provocative missions in the future.

“Moreover, 1^st Lt. Gen. Thomas Bazilo, the overall command of sector (7) has received orders this evening from the interim Chairman and Commander in chief (C-in-C) 1^st Lt. Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual, to release the commissioner and all his belongings so he can return back to Wau,” the statement further said.

“But next times the government shall stop such provocative missions which aim to destabilize and may create mistrust among the people during the peace time,” the statement added.