SPLA-IO commanders withdraw from Bentiu after threats of forceful eviction

JUBA – High-ranking commanders of the main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) withdrew on Thursday and Friday from Unity State’s capital, Bentiu, after facing threats of forceful eviction.

Speaking to Sudans Post this afternoon, SPLA-IO Sector Two Commander Goerge Gatthuoy Thak, said the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) marched towards their residence in Bentiu with the intention of forcing them to leave.

“The SSPDF Division Four matched against our bases in Bentiu today to force us to withdraw from the town,” Gen. Gatthuoy stated. “Since yesterday, we have been taking our forces out and while we were in the process, today they came in large numbers threatening with fighting using abusive language.”

The senior SPLA-IO commander further said they will not take part in a joint force along Sudan border because of the unfriendly behaviors of the SSPDF and the government in Unity State.

“The state government called us to have joint security forces to move alongside Unity State and Sudan border but currently, they have disappointed us with a lot of these tensions and forced us to withdraw from Bentiu,” he said.

However, SSPDF Division 4B Commander Maj. Gen. William Manyang Mayak refuted Gen. Gatthuoy’s claims, denying any threats towards the SPLA-IO commanders.

He clarified that their movement within Bentiu was intended for Christmas preparations, not confrontation.

“This is a false accusation because our matching was not to fight the SPLA-IO, but the movement was to prepare ground for festive season,” Gen. Mayak told Sudans Post this afternoon.

He attributed the opposition forces’ eviction to alleged criminal activities, stating that the state authorities had no choice but to remove them from the town.

“They were given the withdrawal letter by state government because some of their soldiers are taking laws into their hands terrorizing civilians within the town,” Gen. Mayak stated.

The latest expulsion of the main armed opposition commanders from Bentiu comes more than one month after the acting deputy governor and minister of law enforcement agencies William Dak Koch ordered the SPLA-IO forces to leave Bentiu.

In a directive obtained by Sudans Post at the time, Dak mandated the evacuation of the generals, including the most senior, General Turuk Khor Kuai, commander of SPLA-IO Division 4A due to insecurity created by their soldiers in the town.