A senior officer of the South Sudanese army has warned civilians in rebel-held parts of Jonglei to leave as government troops are deployed to deal with Sudan People’s Liberation Army In Opposition (SPLA-IO) fighters, APA learnt on Tuesday.
Fighting has been raging in the east of the country for more than two weeks as SPLA-IO loyalists engaging government troops in the area and occupied some parts of Jonglei state.
Deputy army chief Gen Johnson Oluny told a detachment under his command to not to spare anything in sight when they reach Jonglei state where SPLA-IO fighters backing former first vice-president Riek Machar hae been occupying some parts of the state.
According to the government, Gen Oluny’s statement does not constitute an official order.
Recently soldiers deployed to the state wre given one week to remove the threat posed by the pro-Machar insurgents.
However the UN Mission in South Sudan, (UNMISS) has condemned Gen Oluny’s statement as inflammatory and an incitement against civilians.
South Sudan had witnessed instability since the country’s gained independence from Sudan in 2011. The latest unrest has sparked fears of a return to civil conflict.
Sources say SPLA-IO fighters had stepped up their military campaign to pressure President Kiir’s government to release his political foe who was accused of being the mastermind of a botched coup in December 2013 which formed the basis for the courrent conflict.
WN/as/APA