A video surfaced online on Tuesday depicting seven young individuals reportedly killed by SSPDF soldiers after clashes with SPLA-IO forces.
The victims, all males between the ages of 17 and 22, were attacked overnight on Tuesday as they sought refuge from ongoing fighting in the area.
Speaking to reporters at a press conference in Juba on Wednesday, Major Gen. Lul Ruai Koang, SSPDF spokesman, denied conducting house-to-house searches and eliminating civilians.
“After the clashes, I came across a social media post that posted about five bodies that were in civilian clothes, and the post was saying those were civilians that were killed in their respective houses by our security forces,” Lul said.
“I would like to say no, we did not move from barracks to houses, doing house-to-house searches and eliminating civilians.”
Lul confirmed that their forces engaged in conflict with “SPLA-IO soldiers disguised in civilian attire”.
“I would like to make it clear that in Western Equatoria, especially in Nagero County, most of the SPLA-IO soldiers that are there do not have uniforms. They are in civilian clothes,” he said.
“Even the ones that were engaging us were clearly in civilian clothes. But of course, they were carrying their arms in the military formation, and the arm, which were done professionally, was an indication that they were SPLA-IO soldiers that were lacking uniforms.”
He stated that a small number of livestock were killed in the crossfire during the exchange of gunfire with SPLA-IO forces.
“But we were wearing civilian clothes. I was also told by the area commander that a few livestock were shot and killed in crossfire because the engagement was near the market, and there were some livestock. I had wanted to have a picture of that, but it was not possible, so you can counter-check.”
He stated that SPLA-IO ambushed their convoy travelling to Nagero County on Tuesday.
“So, as our forces would approach, they would find themselves that they are encountering an obstacle, so their movement would be slowed down, and when their movement is slowed down, that is the point,” he said.
“So, they were attacked at two places, and we were able to neutralise the attackers, and we were able to eliminate seven of them.”
