Top rebel commander taken captive by South Sudan army — spokesman

JUBA — A senior military commander belonging to South Sudan United Front/Army (SSUF/A) led by General Paul Malong Awan Anei has been arrested in Northern Bahr el Ghazal state by the SSPDF, a senior opposition official said.

In a statement, SSUF/A military spokesman Col. Philip Deng Kuol said SSPDF troops attacked their outpost and took captive the area operation commander Brig. Gen. Akol Ngong Ayok, along with five others in Northern Bahr el Ghazal.

“The office of SSUF/A official military spokesman is in position to inform the Community of Sant’Egidio, the CTSAMVM and the general public at large, that yesterday at around 4:30am, SSUF/A military base under the command of deputy sector (2) commander Maj. Gen. Peter Lueth Akolda in Bar-rurud outpost came under heavy attacks by the government forces under the directives of an SSPDF commander, Maj. Gen. Chol Madol,” the statement said.

“Its unfortunate that during the desperate retaliations, our area operation commander Brig. Gen. Akol Ngong Ayok was taken hostage alongside with 5 NCOS others including one officer by the name Maj. Wol Bol who was caught differently during the incident five days back and we demand their immediately release from that military custody,” the statement added.

The statement further said that the group will now conduct military operations and urged its forces to remain on high alert.

“In conclusion, we would also make it crystal clear that from today onwards, we will conduct our military operations in all locations in the country and our beloved civilians are urged to avoid all combat areas,” it said.

“On the other hand, all our forces are directed to vividly wield-up their military arsenals and stay in the maximum alert, because this is the only belligerent language that the government in Juba understands,” it added.