First Vice President and SPLM-IO leader Dr. Riek Machar addresses a press conference jointly with President Salva Kiir (not seen) at the State House in Juba on February 20, 2020 (Photo: via Getty Images)
JUBA – The main armed opposition group in South Sudan, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO), on Monday dismissed as ‘false’ the claim that their chairman and commander-in-chief blocked the plans to evacuate stranded soldiers from Akobo County of Jonglei State.
This comes after a press conference in Bilpam on Monday where SSPDF Spokesperson Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang and Assistant CDF for Training Lt. Gen. James Koang Chuol accused Machar of impeding efforts to evacuate remaining soldiers in Upper Nile’s Ulang County and Jonglei State’s Akobo County.
Puok Both Baluang, Acting Press Secretary in the Office of the First Vice President, denied these allegations, calling them “baseless accusations” that are a “complete misrepresentation of the facts.”
“To clarify the situation, the SSPDF soldiers in question numbered five. Sadly, one of these five soldiers died en route. The remaining soldiers, led by an officer named Garang Wol, fled to Buong, in Akobo West, following the incident in Wech-Yar-Adiu in Nasir,” Baluang said in a statement issued on Monday.
According to Baluang, SSPDF soldiers requested protection by communicating their presence to the First Vice President via the Buong Payam administrator of Akobo County.
“Upon their arrival in the area, SSPDF soldiers communicated their presence to the First Vice President through the Buong Payam administrator. Subsequently, the First Vice President contacted Maj. Gen. James Utong Liah, Commander of SPLA-IO Division 8, informed him of the SSPDF soldiers, and directed him to provide them with protection,” he said.
According to him, the Machar gave his commander, Gen. James Utong Liah, instructions to take the SSPDF soldiers who were stuck to Walgak so they could be sent to Wat, the closest SSPDF station.
“Demonstrating good faith and commitment to cooperation, General James Utong Liah offered to escort the stranded SSPDF soldiers to Walgak, from where they could be transferred to Wat, the nearest SSPDF station. However, the SSPDF soldiers declined this offer and instead opted to remain in Buong and await evacuation to Juba from that location.”
He claimed that the SSPDF men are currently in Buong voluntarily, staying with locals while being protected by the SPLA-IO.
He said the First Vice President has been working hard to find SSPDF officers and troops who are dispersed throughout Nasir and Ulang counties so that they can be transported to Juba.
“To date, we have located approximately 108 officers, NCOs, and men who are being sheltered by local communities, primarily in Ulang County,” he said.
“Two wounded soldiers, accompanied by three others, were successfully flown to Juba yesterday, March 9, 2025, for medical treatment. We anticipate that further soldiers will emerge from hiding as these search efforts continue.”
According to him, the SPLM-IO recognized the outstanding contribution made by local communities—including young people—in offering refuge and support to soldiers who were stranded.
“We call upon the SSPDF to prioritize de-escalation and work collaboratively to resolve this situation constructively.”
