SSPDF recruiting in Unity State to prepare for disarmament in Tonj, Gen. Buay claims

JUBA — South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) is forcefully recruiting in the country’s Unity State in order to reinforce its division in Warrap state to help in a planned disarmament exercise, Gen. Stephen Buay Rolnyang has said.

Buay who heads the opposition South Sudan People’s Movement/Army (SSPM/A) alleged in a statement extended to Sudans Post that SSPDF’s fourth infantry division was recruiting among the youth in different parts of Unity State in a forceful manner.

“The South Sudan People’s Movement/Army (SSPM/A) is concerned about ongoing forceful conscription of youths in Western Upper Nile (Unity state) by the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) 4th Infantry Division Command,” the statement reads in part.

The statement said that the conscription exercise was “ordered by the SSPDF GHQ to raise or contribute forces to be sent to Tonj to fight and disarm Tonj armed civilians who are currently fighting regime forces,”

The statement pointed out that alleged that the conscription exercise is being performed in Rubkona and Mayom and are uplifting the conscript to Juba.

“Due to the fact that the 4th infantry Division could not raise a single rifle platoon to be sent to Juba, the commander of 4th infantry Division has resorted to rounding up youth in Rubkona and Mayom counties,” the statement said.

“They conscripted them against their will and sent them to Juba by planes from Rubkona airstrip to Juba international airport where to get armed and sent to Tonj by land. The first group was flown to Juba yesterday on 14/7/2022,” he added.

The statement further condemned the alleged recruitment and urged the civilians in the area to resist the recruitment.

“The SSPM/A condemns this desperate act by the regime and asks all the civilians of Western Upper Nile to resist this an unlawful forceful recruitment violently to protect their dignity and rights,” the statement added.