SPLA-IO says gov’t forces killed 3 civilians after ambushing ferry travelling from Nasir to Malakal

JUBA – South Sudan’s main armed opposition group, SPLA-IO, has accused the country’s South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) of killing three civilians after ambushing a commercial ferry travelling along the Nile from Nasir to Malakal on Saturday afternoon.

This comes after reports of escalating fighting in parts of Upper Nile state the SPLA-IO said are being provoked by the SSPDF which they accused of attacking their positions including in areas around Maban county.

“Our forces of the SPLA-IO and South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) clashed yesterday morning after the government forces destroyed a river ship belonging to citizens and merchants sailing from Nasir County to Upper Nile state capital Malakal and in this unfortunate incident led to the death of three innocent citizens who were inside the ship,” the SPLA-IO said in a statement seen by Sudans Post.

The opposition forces, which are also a party to the revitalized peace agreement signed by the government and several opposition groups in 2018, said they interfere to protect the civilians before repulsing the government forces to briefly capture some areas including Baliet.

“The SPLA-IO forces interfered to protect the citizens and managed to repel and chase the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces and until our forces seized the districts of Baliet and Adung by afternoon before withdrawing later in the day in respect of the revitalized peace agreement,” the statement further added.

Several ceasefire violations are raising alarms among peace monitors as well as the regional community who believes recent fighting in Central Equatoria and parts of Upper Nile state constitute a threat to the implementation of the 2018 peace agreement.

The government has in Central Equatoria state been fighting holdout opposition groups who refused in 2018 to sign the revitalized peace agreement after accusing the government of President Salva Kiir Mayardit and the SPLM-IO of monopolizing the talks.