S. Sudan army dislodges SPLA-IO forces from Upper Nile state base in latest blow to ceasefire

JUBA – South Sudan’s main armed opposition group, SPLA-IO, has said this afternoon that it has been dislodged from a military base in the country’s Upper Nile state in what an opposition spokesman said is “complete violation of the permanent ceasefire.”

In recent days, fighting between SPLA-IO and South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) has been raging on in many areas in both Upper Nile and Central Equatoria states with SPLA-IO saying last week that it has been attacked in an area in Maban County by the SSPDF.

In a statement this afternoon, Colonel Lam Paul Gabriel, the SPLA-IO deputy military spokesman, said South Sudan army attacked an opposition base at Bankida in Upper Nile state in what is now a concern in the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement signed in September 2018 adding that the SPLA-IO had to withdrew from the base.

“This morning the 26/01/2021 at about 8:00AM, a combined force of National Security forces, Tiger and the SSPDF attacked the SPLA-IO assembly area of Bankida in complete violations of the Permanent ceasefire,” he said.

“The SPLA-IO forces tactically withdrew from Bankida on directives from the SPLA-IO High Command,” he added.

The statement further said the group “strongly condemn this constant suicidal act of aggression against its forces and positions by forces of the SPLM-IG; and, is therefore, demanding a complete withdrawal of this combined force from Bankida as soon as possible to avoid the escalation of this provocative attack.”

“The SPLA-IO remains committed to the implementation of the Security Arrangements in particular and the R-ARCSS in general but it holds the right to self-defense when attacked.”