SPLA-IO denies being part of SSPDF operations against ‘White Army’ in Upper Nile

JUBA – South Sudan’s main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) under the overall command of First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny has denied that it is a part of the ongoing operation against armed civilians from Jonglei state in Upper Nile state, saying it has no policy to fight civilians.

This comes after a local government official in Upper Nile state said last week that an operation by the Necessary Unified Forces (NUF) was ongoing to clear out northern part of the state from armed youth also known as White Army from Jonglei who have been attacking civilians in the Shilluk Kingdom resulting in the displacement of thousands of people.

Speaking to Sudans Post on Sunday morning, SPLA-IO spokesman Lam Paul Gabriel said that the Necessary Unified Forces is not a part of the operations being conducted against the White Army by South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) in Upper Nile and said that the main armed opposition group does not fight civilians.

“No, this claim is not true at all. The SPLA-IO doesn’t fight against civilians in any form. The white army, just like any other armed youth organisation, is civilian-based. The claim that the Necessary Unified Force is also taking part in those operations is not true,” he said from Juba.

Last week, the presidency announced that the army chief has been instructed by President Salva Kiir Mayardit to deploy troops to Upper Nile where civilians were reportedly being attacked by the Jonglei armed youth.