US, Britain and Norway condemns SSPDF attacks on SPLA-IO

JUBA – The United States, United Kingdom, and Norway (collectively known as Troika) have issued a statement condemning attacks on several Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) positions in Upper Nile and Unity states by South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF).

This comes a day after the main armed opposition group said it was suspending its participation, temporarily, in joint security mechanism and peace monitoring bodies such as the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (R-JMEC) over continued attacks against the group in Upper Nile and Unity states.

“The Troika countries (United States, United Kingdom, and Norway) condemn the reported attacks by the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) on Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army-In-Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) positions in Jekau and other towns in Maiwut County, Upper Nile State beginning the weekend of March 19-20,” the Troika statement reads in part.

“These incidents follow a series of reported attacks across Unity and Upper Nile states by SSPDF and SSPDF-aligned forces on SPLM/A-IO positions over the last two months,” it added.

The powerful South Sudan’s friends went on to urge the “the Permanent Ceasefire and Peace Agreement monitoring and verification mechanisms, the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM) and the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC), to provide urgently an assessment of whether these attacks constitute a breach of R-ARCSS and identify those that bear primary responsibility.”

It warned that “Incidents such as these and the resulting cycles of revenge attacks risk greater violence in the country.  They also illustrate the destabilizing and pernicious effects of incentivized defections, as these are often followed by armed clashes between defectors and their former comrades in arms.”

“The Troika is particularly concerned by reported attacks against Training Centers and Cantonment Sites, which betray a lack of political will to unify and graduate the Necessary Unified Forces, and thereby threaten to undermine the R-ARCSS,” the statement added.

It further urged the “the Government of South Sudan to exercise leadership and oversight of the nation’s security forces to maintain discipline and compliance with the Peace Agreement.”