On Feb 16, the South Sudan army reported an ambush in Nasir, resulting in 10 soldiers dead and 21 injured. The army accused the SPLM-IO, led by Riek Machar, of inciting local youth to attack. Opposition spokesman Lam Paul Gabriel denied any involvement, citing army aggression towards civilians. This violence highlights ongoing political instability and challenges to a fragile ceasefire in the region.
On February 16, the army in South Sudan reported that at least 10 soldiers were killed and 21 injured during an ambush by armed youths in Nasir, located in the Upper Nile state. According to army spokesperson Lul Ruai Kong, the attackers are believed to be affiliated with the opposition party, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO), led by Riek Machar, who has historically opposed President Salva Kiir.
The attack is said to have been instigated by the SPLM-IO to provoke local youth against army positions, as indicated by Kong. He mentioned that the army possesses substantial evidence against the opposition and plans to present this information to the ceasefire monitoring committee for accountability.
Despite the army’s accusations, Lam Paul Gabriel, a spokesperson for the opposition rebels, denied their involvement and asserted that they did not provoke the local youth. Gabriel claimed that the army attacked civilians first, which led to the local youths retaliating against the government forces.
In Nasir, control is currently divided between government forces and opposition rebels. Flare-ups in violence have been noted across other areas of South Sudan, particularly in the southwest, amid ongoing political instability following a government reshuffle by President Kiir. Delays in implementing the 2018 peace agreement further exacerbate the fragility of the situation.
This incident in South Sudan highlights the escalating tensions between government forces and opposition groups, resulting in significant casualties. The accusations and counter-accusations regarding the ambush reflect the ongoing instability and complicated dynamics in the region. As both sides prepare to present evidence to a monitoring committee, the fragile ceasefire established in 2018 faces serious challenges. Political uncertainty and delays in peace agreement implementation continue to undermine efforts toward stability in South Sudan.
Original Source: efe.com
