The Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO), under the leadership of Riek Machar, has blamed the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF), for failing to control Kitgwang forces after signing the Khartoum agreement.
Col. Lam Paul Gabriel, the spokesperson of the SPLA-IO forces, told The City Review that the national army, with whom they are implementing the peace agreement (R-ARCSS) was waging what he called ‘proxy war’.
The two factions of SPLA-IO confronted each other yesterday morning for the third time since the signing of the Khartoum Peace Agreement between Kitgwang forces and the government to ensure that Kitgwang forces, commanded by Gatwech, and the Agwelek forces are integrated into SSPDF.
Col. Lam said their forces were attacked by forces commanded by the commissioner of Koch County at Mirmir, a designated cantonment site to SPLA-IO by the Joint Defence Board (JDB).
“Mirmir is a cantonment side under the command and control of the Joint Defense Board (JDB). Secondly, the Kit Gwang elements signed a defection agreement with the SSPDF in Khartoum last month. It is therefore not only a violation from them but a complete proxy war being waged against the SPLA-IO in Mirmir cantonment side by our peace partner,” Lam stated.
He accused the commissioner of Koch County of meddling in the peace agreement by warranting the attacks on the SPLA-IO position.
“The SPLA-IO forces repulsed the aggression in Mirmir by the anti-peace elements that came from Koch County. The attack is from Koch county commissioner, but the SSPDF is responsible for command and control of the Kit Gwang [forces]. Therefore, they should have restrained on them instead of being used by politicians to gain political status, “the SPLA-IO military spokesperson said.
The military spokesperson said the way forward to ending such violations was the completion of the security arrangements, warning that continued clashes could cause the displacement of civilians.
“Completion of the security arrangements is the only way forward. War by proxy cannot bring peace but more violence and displacement of innocent civilians,” he concluded.
Early this week, Lam vowed that SPLA-IO could not attack Kit Gwang forces because they had already been directed by their chairman to disengage considering Kit Gwang faction as part of SSPDF.