South Sudan rebels refute Juba's allegations over captives

September 23, 2014 (ADDIS ABABA) – South Sudan’s SPLM in Opposition rebel faction led by former vice-president Riek Machar has dismissed as “desperate propaganda” the recent allegations by president Salva Kiir’s government that the army captured three rebel fighters, which they accused of fighting for Sudan to regain disputed border territories.

A South Sudanese government soldier stands in front of a vehicle in South Sudan’s Unity state on 12 January 2014 (AP)

The South Sudanese army (SPLA) paraded the alleged war captives on the state-run South Sudan Television (SSTV) on Sunday, claiming that the prisoners were captured during recent clashes in Upper Nile state between the SPLA and the rebel forces.

SPLA spokesperson Col Philip Aguer earlier claimed the rebel fighters were given a Sudanese flag to hoist it in the event of decisive rebel gains in the area.

Video footage of the three captives dressed in Sudanese military uniforms was also broadcast.

Machar’s spokesperson, however, dismissed the episode saying it was concocted and designed to smear the good name and objectives of the SPLM-in-Opposition.

“This is a desperate negative propaganda by the enemies of peace. It is an attempt concocted and designed to try to smear the name of the SPLM [in opposition] and its objectives,” said James Gatdet Dak on Tuesday in response to the allegations.

Dak said the allegations aimed to mislead and rally the South Sudanese public and the international community against the cause of the freedom fighters.

He said the leadership of the rebel group was not aware of any of the soldiers captured during the recent government offensive against the rebel positions, saying the opposition forces instead managed to capture many locations in retaliation as they were successfully pushing back “government troops and their foreign allies.”

Dak explained they were the government troops that had been defecting or surrendering to the rebel forces since the war began in mid-December last year.

He refuted the allegation that the alleged captured rebel soldiers were wearing Sudanese military uniforms and holding the Sudanese flag to hoist in South Sudan.

“First of all we don’t receive military support from Sudan. Second, it wouldn’t make sense for the leadership that championed the split of the former Sudan and independence of South Sudan to be working to annex South Sudan back to Sudan,” Dak further argued, saying “no sound minded person will buy this propaganda.”

He said some of those who now pretend to be loving the independence of South Sudan were die-hard supporters of unity of Sudan against the aspirations of the people of South Sudan.

The rebel leader’s spokesman added that the mission of the rebel group was clear, saying one of the main principles and objectives was to install a democratic and federal state in South Sudan.

He further added that their leadership will also establish good relations with all the neighbouring countries including Sudan, adding that Sudan will always share the longest border with South Sudan.

(ST)