The government’s allied forces, Sudan People’s Liberation Army- In Opposition, Kitgwang Faction that was integrated into the SSPDF and its former commander, Gen. Johnson Olony, tasked to disarm the civilians and remove the illegal roadblocks in the Greater Upper Nile Region of South Sudan. |File Photo|.
Spokesperson of the armed opposition group—the Sudan People’s Liberation Army In-Opposition (SPLA-IO), Colonel Lam Paul Gabriel, said a helicopter gunship belonging to South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) bombarded their positions in Ulang County of Upper Nile State on Tuesday, 25 February 2025, in early morning hours. He, however, did not confirm the number of casualties.
Col. Gabriel said the bombardment happened in the morning at about 8:30 AM (Central African Time), describing the attack as an act of violation of the revitalized peace agreement signed between the government and the opposition groups to restore peace and stability in war-torn South Sudan.
“This morning at about 8:30 am, the SSPDF bombarded the SPLA-IO assembly areas in Doma Payam of Ulang county. The so-called peaceful mission to Nasir has just turned violent,” Gabriel said.
Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang, the SSPDF spokesperson, said in the last two weeks, SPLA-IO and its affiliated militias, namely white armies from Ulang, Nasir, and even Nyirol counties of Jonglei State had mobilized in large numbers with the initial objective of thwarting planned rotation of troops in Nasir.
Gen. Ruai said the latest intelligence the SSPDF received indicates that the intention of the armed groups had shifted from hindering the planned rotation of servicemen in Nasir to conducting large-scale offensive operations against innocent civilians in Baliet County. This media, however, could not independently confirm his allegations during the press time.
Ruai confirmed that the SSPDF has been closely monitoring the subversive activities of the enemy this morning (Tuesday 25 February).
He said the SSPDF deployed its aerial surveillance capabilities and, as a result, spotted two large columns of SPLA-IO forces and the white army advancing towards Gelachel and Baliet town.
“The latest enemy’s movement towards the aforementioned localities had forced civilians to flee their homes. Based on human intelligence gathered and aerial surveillance conducted, there are real threats of armed confrontations erupting between SSPDF and the advancing enemy forces,” Ruai alleged.
“In compliance with our mandate to protect ourselves, the location population, and their properties, the SSPDF command, once again, renews calls for the combined hostile forces to halt further advances, retreat, and disperse,” he stressed.
Ruai said failure to adhere to the aforementioned calls, the SSPDF would be compelled to launch pre-emptive air strikes as well as conduct hasty meeting engagements.
Over the past few weeks, South Sudan has been facing increasing security challenges with armed skirmishes reported in Western Equatoria, Western Bahr El-Ghazal, and Upper Nile states.
The renewed clashes between the SSPDF, SPLA-IO, and White-Army armed grounds claimed several lives and displaced thousands of people from their homes, especially in Raja, Tombura, and Yambio counties.
The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) called on the government and the opposition groups to exercise restraint and calm their forces to end the suffering of the civilians in the country.
The lawmakers representing Raja County in the transitional national legislative assembly accused the SSPDF and National Security Service of committing atrocities in Raja County a few days ago.
The area members of parliament said at least 400 houses of civilians were torched and thousands of people displaced from their areas. The army spokesperson did not comment on these allegations.
