SSPDF, SPLA-IO generals in Unity State to visit Sudan border amid Buay attack fears

BENTIU, NOV. 3, 2023 (SUDANS POST) – High ranking South Sudan military commanders in the country’s Unity State will visit the country’s border with Sudan on Saturday amid fears of a looming rebel attack from the north.

SPLA-IO sector two spokesman Maj. Kerbino Yai Pazale told Sudans Post on Friday that the mission will be led by the SSPDF division four commander Maj. Gen. William Manyang Mayak and his SPLA-IO counterpart Maj. Gen. John Turuk Khor of the opposition’s division 4A.

According to Maj. Kerbino, the visit comes after they received intelligence reports that a rebel attack is being planned from Sudan by the South Sudan People’s Movement/Army (SSPM/A) with its leader Gen. Stephen Buay Rolnyang himself commanding the alleged attack.

“Tomorrow morning, government ministers and officials and the two army generals, Maj. Gen. William Manyang Mayak, the SSPDF Division 4 commander, and Maj. Gen. John Turuk Khor, commander of SPLA-IO 4A division, will go to the Sudan border,” he said in his office this afternoon.

“The reason for the joint mission is that there is war coming from the side of Sudan and this war is led by renegade Maj. Gen. Stephen Buay Rolnyang who is planning to attack Mayom County in Unity State from Sudan,” the opposition officer added.

‘SSPDF SPREADING RUMORS’

Speaking to Sudans Post separately, General Stephen Buay dismissed the claims of impending attack as ‘rumors’ being spread by the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) and said they are not planning to attack Mayom.

He speculated that the fears for an attack by the SSDPF is because he has completed what he said is phase three of the organization of his movement along the Sudan-South Sudan border which he said does not translate into preparation for an attack.

“The SSPDF 4^th Infantry Division command is spreading rumors that the SSPA is preparing to attack Mayom town simply because they are just feeling the heat of our preparation and completion of seventy percent of the SSPA phase 3 on the border of South Sudan with Sudan,” he said.

“But that does not mean that we are going to attack Mayom. Mayom is not only our target, but there are also other objectives elsewhere rather than Mayom,” he added.

He accused the government of President Salva Kiir Mayardit and its security agencies of persecuting the people of Mayom County on allegations that they are support his rebellion. He said that he will not attack Mayom and warned he is watching the visit by the army commanders.

“The people of Mayom have endured immense persecution and intimidation at the hands of pro-regime militias who accuse them of being SSPA supporters,” he said.

“Therefore, we are not going to attack Mayom now and we are also aware of the visit of the SSPDF commander of the 4^th Infantry Division to Heglig SAF garrison,” he added.