SPLM-IO dismisses as ‘propaganda’ claims that Machar is fueling Ulang sectional violence

JUBA – South Sudan’s main armed opposition group, SPLM-IO, led by First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny has denied claims on social media that the main armed opposition leader is behind last month’s sectional violence that resulted in killing of almost 45 people in Ulang county of Upper Nile state.

In late April, sectional violence erupted among two sections of Chieng-Chuol Duong killing over 45 people. Some social media users have claimed without evidence that FVP Dr. Riek Machar was behind the violence.

“After conducted a thorough investigation into what led the deadly fighting among the youth of Cieng-Chuol Duong, the Upper Nile Observer, found proven evidences, implicated Riek Machar as the mastermind behind the whole horrified deadly violence incident befallen Cieng-Duong community in Ulang County last week, multiple sources with direct knowledge of the situation have revealed,” anonymous user wrote.

However, speaking to Sudans Post in an interview on Monday, SPLM-IO Director of Information and Public Relations Puok Both Baluang described the claim as propaganda he said being engineered by anti-peace elements.

“This is a mere propaganda fabricated by the enemies of peace and I would like to categorically refute it,” Baluang said from South Sudan’s capital Juba on phone.

He added that the claim is a “vain attempt to tarnish the reputation of the people’s movement’s leader Dr. Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon.”