This comes after SSPDF spokesperson, Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang released a statement Friday and claimed that the army received credible intelligence and complaints from various entities confirmed that fighters from the SPLA-IO and the White Army have commandeered several vessels in Fangak and Leer Counties in Jonglei and Unity states, respectively.
In response, the SPLMA-IO Spokesperson, Col. Lam Paul Gabriel, denied the claim and called it “baseless”.
“The SPLA-IO would also like to dismiss the false accusation made by the SSPDF spokesperson yesterday, 2/05/2025, that the SPLA-IO detained boats belonging to the United Nations and some businessmen in Adok. This is baseless,” Lam said.
“The SPLA-IO didn’t hijack boats or demand money. The boats are in Adok port for a reason best known to the businessmen,” added the spokesperson.
On Friday, the SSPDF threatened a punitive aerial action if the hijackers did not release the boats. Lam confirmed that an aerial bombardment was launched in Fangak in the early hours of Saturday.
“Today, 3/05/2025, at about 5:00 AM, the SSPDF air-raided the SPLA-IO controlled area of Old Fangak, killing four (4) civilians and injuring 25 others; three of whom are Sudanese Nationals (traders). The bombardment also destroyed a health centre operated by MSF,” Lam stated.
The SPLA-IO also claimed that it received confirmed reports of conscription in the village of Sindiru along Juba-Lobonok road, where the SSPDF forcefully took young men, including children to be used as fighters, terming it “acts of crime that should be investigated.”
On a separate development, Mr Lam claimed that on 30/04/2025, the SSPDF from Pagak and Maiwut launched a heavy attack on the SPLA IO military barracks in Wangkurbii and Wechtutbuor, adding that the attack was repulsed.
