SPLA-IO Accused of Detaining Civilian Boats, Demanding $4,000 Along Sobat River ‎

Image
‎ Boat ferrying civilians  Nasir, Upper Nile State  ‎Authorities in Nasir County, Upper Nile State, have accused forces loyal to the Sudan People’s Liberation Army In Opposition (SPLA-IO) of detaining civilian riverboats and demanding ransom-like payments of up to $4,000 from traders and passengers along the Sobat River. ‎ ‎According to Nasir County Commissioner James Gatwech Joak, several boats traveling from Matar in Nasir County to Malakal were intercepted by SPLA-IO soldiers in Yakuach, an area in Nyirol County, Jonglei State. ‎ ‎“Our traders paid local taxes to SPLA-IO in Mandeng before setting off. But on reaching Yakuach, they were detained again and told to pay an additional four thousand U.S. dollars,” Commissioner Gatwech said. ‎ ‎He explained that the detained boat operators and traders were reportedly held for four days while armed men demanded more payments.  ‎ Some of the passengers were women, children, and patients traveling for medical treatment in Malaka...

Opposition Pushback: NAS and SPLA-IO Claim Capture of Key SSPDF Base in Mundri East



‎Opposition forces in South Sudan have claimed responsibility for seizing a government army garrison in Mundri East County, Western Equatoria State, following heavy fighting earlier this week.

‎In a joint statement, fighters from the National Salvation Front (NAS) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-In Opposition (SPLA-IO) said they launched a dawn attack on the Kadi’ba garrison, killing at least 13 soldiers of the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF). 

The groups further claimed they captured several weapons, ammunition, and an armored personnel carrier (APC).

‎Video footage released by the opposition appears to show jubilant fighters standing near the seized APC and weapons. 

The NAS–SPLA-IO alliance said the operation was carried out in retaliation to what they described as “continuous incursions, harassment, and looting of civilians” by government troops in the area.

‎Local officials have confirmed that clashes did occur but could not verify the opposition’s version of events. 

Mundri East County Commissioner John Henry Ngalamu told the media that the situation remained tense, and a fact-finding mission had been dispatched to assess the impact. 

Western Equatoria State Police Commissioner Philip Madut Tong also called for investigations into the incident.

‎Attempts to reach SSPDF spokesperson Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang for comment were unsuccessful at the time of publication.

‎The attack comes at a politically sensitive moment, with SPLA-IO leader Dr. Riek Machar currently on trial for treason in Juba alongside seven senior officials. 

The NAS, led by Gen. Thomas Cirillo, has never signed the 2018 peace agreement, while Machar’s SPLA-IO is officially part of the unity government but has recently shown signs of internal rifts.

‎The reported capture of the garrison raises concerns of renewed instability in Western Equatoria, an area that has experienced repeated clashes between government forces and holdout opposition groups.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

SPLA-IO Accused of Detaining Civilian Boats, Demanding $4,000 Along Sobat River ‎

Governor Rabi Mujung Dismisses Juba City Mayor, Appoints New Leadership Team ‎

SSPDF Airstrikes Hit SPLA-IO Positions in Jur River County (WBGS)