SPLA-IO asks civilians to vacate four counties in Central Equatoria

JUBA – South Sudan’s main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) led by detained First Vice President Riek Machar has urged civilians to leave at least four counties in Central Equatoria, citing attacks by government forces.

In a statement released on Tuesday, SPLA-IO military spokesman Col. Lam Paul Gabriel said the group was issuing the warning because the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) was turning the counties into an operational hub.

Lam said SSPDF forces had launched attacks on SPLA-IO bases in Yaribe and Yondu, with the aim of advancing on a cantonment site in Panyume Payam, Central Equatoria State. He said the attacks occurred in the early hours of Tuesday.

“This morning at about 0500 hours, the SSPDF launched aggressive attacks against the SPLA-IO positions of Yaribe and Yondu with the aim of advancing to Panyume cantonment site in Morobo County, Central Equatoria State,” he said.

“However, they were repulsed from both fronts with heavy casualties on the attacking forces,” the statement added.

Lam said that after the attacks were repulsed, the government then deployed aerial attacks against civilians.

“This later followed by an aerial attack targeting and destroying civilians’ property and public buildings in Panyume,” he said.

The statement urged civilians in Morobo, Kajo-Keji, Yei, and Lainya counties to leave the areas “to avoid being caught up in crossfire as this aggression by the SSPDF is meant to continue making the counties become a zone for operations.”

This appeared to signal a potential escalation in fighting between the two signatories of the revitalized peace agreement.

There was no immediate comment from SSPDF spokesman, Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang, who could not be reached for comment.