JUBA – Fighting broke out on Tuesday morning between South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) and main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) in Unity State’s Koch Country with SPLA-IO accusing Koch County commissioner of initiating attack.
In a statement extended to Sudans Post, SPLA-IO spokesman Col. Lam Paul Gabriel said forces belonging to South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) commanded by Koch County Commissioner moved out from Mirmir, which was captured from SPLA-IO last month, and attacked their forces in Boaw and Padeh.
“This evening, Koch county commissioner moved his forces out of Mirmir and attacked the SPLA-IO positions of Boaw and Padeh just one day after the principals recommitted to CoHA in Juba on 3/04/2022,” Gabriel said in the brief statement posted on his Facebook page.
He said the latest attack comes after the Joint Defense Board (JDB) and the National Transitional Committee (NTC) made series of communication to the Koch County commissioner over recent attacks.
“This aggression happened despite series of communication made to the commissioner from the JDB and NTC leadership,” he said.
The latest attack is yet another blow to the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement just a week after tensions in South Sudan’s capital Juba brought about by similar attacks threatened to discard the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement.
This attack also comes just two days after President Kiir and First Vice President Machar signed an agreement to cease hostility and form the unified security commands.
