SPLA-IO withdraws forces from Unity State base after clash

BENTIU – South Sudan’s main armed opposition, the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO), has withdrawn its forces from its base in northern Unity State following hours of fighting with government forces.

Clashes between the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) and SPLA-IO erupted on Monday afternoon after the SSPDF allegedly attacked the SPLA-IO base at Nyuelnyuel, also known as Barkuor, north of the state capital Bentiu.

Information Minister David Gai Jiejor confirmed the fighting and that at least two senior army and police generals were wounded, including the division head of military intelligence, Alier Machar. However, he denied that the SSPDF initiated the attack.

Instead, he accused the SPLA-IO of ambushing a convoy carrying Governor Nguen Manytuil, who, he claimed, was on an inspection visit to displaced civilians.

Multiple military sources affiliated with the SPLA-IO stated that the group decided to withdraw from the base, not due to defeat, but as part of a previously agreed-upon relocation.

They claim they moved to an area 5 kilometers outside the Nyuelnyuel base.

“Since last week, we agreed to withdraw from the base and relocate our forces five kilometers away. We were in the process of moving when they attacked. We fought back and then completed our withdrawal,” said an SPLA-IO officer who spoke to Sudans Post on condition of anonymity.

The officer claimed two SPLA-IO soldiers were killed in the clash, while at least six SSPDF soldiers, including high-ranking officers, were lost.

SPLA-IO Sector Two Spokesman Maj. Kerbino Yai Pazale confirmed the withdrawal but reiterated it was not due to defeat. He emphasized that the relocation was pre-planned to maintain peace and also denied that anyone was killed on their side.

“We relocated north of the base, five kilometers away. This should not be seen as defeat. We decided to move our forces out of the area last week,” he added.

The senior opposition officer vehemently denied the government’s claim that the SPLA-IO ambushed the governor’s convoy. He insisted that his group was attacked by “the war-loving” SSPDF forces.

“That’s a lie. How can we ambush them when the area they mentioned is far from the fighting? We didn’t ambush anyone. What happened is that we were attacked, as everyone knows. They planned this for several days,” he asserted.