Gen. Olony’s allies attack civilians in Ayod County

JUBA – South Sudan rebel forces allied to General Johnson Olony Thabo in Jonglei state have launched attack against civilians in Ayod County killing an unknown number of unarmed civilians and displacing hundreds more, according to a statement extended to Sudans Post.

In the statement dated December 17, SPLA-IO Kitgwang spokesman Brig. Gen. Alfred Gach Thot said forces loyal to General Thomas Mabor Dhol, the deputy chair of the Kitgwang faction led by Gen. Olony, attacked civilians in a village in Ayod County on Friday.

“The SPLA-IO military leadership strongly condemns the barbaric attack against Gawaar civilians in Ayod County by elements loyal to Gen. Thomas Mabor Dhol, a senior commander allied to Agwelek division forces under Gen. Johnson Olony Thabo,” he said in the statement.

The statement said the attack resulted in the killing of unknown number of civilians and an unknown number of cattle were stolen and further called on the communities in Ayod County to defuse tensions and avoid to be used for political reasons which it said does not benefit them.

“Gen. Thomas Mabor Dhol has sent his men and attacked Nor-Manyang areas in Ayod county, raiding unverified numbers of cattle and number of people got killed,” the statement said.

“The SPLMA-IO KD leadership is calling on traditional leadership and youth from Nyirol and Ayod counties to defuse any future revenge and bring the situation under normalcy and use dialogue as means to resolve the unfolding situation including bringing back the raided cattle to the rightful owners,” it added.