“It is a lie”: Machar’s party dismisses alleged involvement in attack on IDPs in Panyikang

JUBA – South Sudan’s main armed opposition SPLM-IO has denied any involvement in Thursday’s attack where armed men stormed an IDP camp in Panyikang County of Upper Nile state killing at least seventeen innocent civilians.

This comes after the SPLA-IO Kitgwang faction under Gen. Gatwech Dual issued a statement and accused Machar’s forces at Diel of launching the attack, a claim senior government officials in Panyikang also echoed.

In a statement this morning, the Cholo Caucus in the SPLM-IO condemned the attack and said forces belonging to Gatwech Dual reinforced by Gawar Nuer White Army are responsible for the attack on the internally displaced civilians.

“Due to the fighting between the former allies, innocent civilians were attacked by the Nuer white army in Addhidhyang displacement Camp: A number of causalities were recorded, thousands fled the area, and their shelters were destroyed, belongings were also looted mainly at the Civilians Camp in Adhidhyang Village,” the Machar-allied group said in the statement.

“We the Collo Caucus in SPLM-IO condemn in the strongest terms this barbaric act on the innocent Collo civilians. Thus, we would like to express our heartfelt condolences to the families of those who had lost their precious lives. Our condolences also go to all the peace-loving people of South Sudan and particularly, the entire Collo People. We pray for quick recovery of the those who sustained injuries,” the statement added.

The statement dismissed the claims that the SPLA-IO forces under First Vice President Machar are involved in the attack saying this claim has no basis and said that civilians from the Shilluk and Nuer ethnic groups are now seeking refugee at an SPLA-IO base in Upper Nile state.

“On the bases of this, we refute the allegations made on the social media by unnamed groups that the SPLM/A-10 under the Leadership of H. E. Dr. Riek Machar Teny, the FVP of South Sudan had been involved in the said attacks. This allegation had no water to hold,” the statement added.

“We in the SPLM/A-IO are much concerned and very mindful about the peace and security of our People across the country. As evidence to that, the SPLM/A-IO had received the displaced Collo and Nuer civilians who escaped the crisis at Tonga and Panyikang areas to Pangak (Pam), Diel and Atar areas that are under the control of the SPLM/A-10,” it said.

“It also facilitated the voluntary transfer of some Collo civilians to Malakal IDPs Camp. Meanwhile, other Collo Civilians were viewed still coexisting in peace in the above mentioned SPLM/A-10 controlled areas,” the statement added.