BENTIU – The SPLA-IO is forcefully recruiting youth in South Sudan’s Unity states, a minister in the state said this morning.
The state minister of information David Gai questions why a party that is signatory to the revitalized peace agreement could recruit at this crucial peace time.
He said the opposition movement have now been recruiting for a week saying many villagers have fled parts of Rubkona where the forceful recruitment was taking place.
“There is forceful recruitment by SPLA-IO in the area of greater Rubkona,” Gai said on Tuesday.
“This has happened for almost a week, they are forcefully recruiting the youth and also taking the cows of the civilians who run away from the forceful recruitment,” he added alleging that parents of those who fled the conscription were being “arbitrarily arrested”.
SPLM-IO denies allegations
However, the SPLA-IO has denied the allegation saying it was meant to tarnish its image and portrayed as a war monger.
SPLA-IO spokesperson Lam Paul Gabriel said his group is not carrying any recruitment process be it forceful or voluntary.
“Our forces are in the cantonment sites and the cantonment sites are Melmel and Ding-ding; and we have our base currently in a place called Tumur and SSOA forces in Mayom,” the opposition spokesman said.
“Now what will take us from Melmel to go and recruit in Thoat and Nhialdiu? This is just a negative propaganda being put against SPLA IO,” he added.
