The Tiger Faction New Forces (TFNF) Press Statement - Attack on our positions at Deba/Thrombaat near Wadakona, Manyo County in Northern Upper Nile

TIGER FACTION NEW FORCES

(TFNF)

PRESS STATEMENT

The Tiger Faction New Forces (TFNF) under the leadership of Gen. Yoanes Okej would like to inform that today 8^th/February, 2016 at 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM South Sudan local time; Government forces attacked our positions at Deba/Thrombaat near Wadakona, Manyo County in Northern Upper Nile.

Tiger gallant forces defended their positions courageously and defeated the attacking government’s forces forcing them to retreat back to their garrison of Wadakon licking their wounds. Tiger Faction New Forces (TFNF) managed to capture two vehicles mounted with machine guns and also captured alive two government soldiers in today’s battle. Soldiers captured are; Private Deng Akol Akol and Private Garang Aroul while government retreating forces carried with them 27 wounded. We would like to inform the public that Kiir regime has been attacking our forces continuously since last week with the intention of clearing Shilluk areas from armed groups in preparation for the operationalization of unconstitutional establishment order 36/2016 creating 28 states. Although IGAD ministers issued a communique on 31^stJanuary,2016 demanding the full and unconstitutional implementation of the Agreement by the Parties, and for the government to suspend further action on implementation of the operationalization of new states until an inclusive, participatory National Boundary Commission comprising all Parties to ARCSS reviews proposed states and their boundaries, nevertheless, the government continues to operationalise the establishment order 36/2016 disregarding the Council of ministers communique with utter arrogance and impunity.

In light of operationalization of the illegal establishment order 36/2015 by Kiir’s dictatorial regime, under the new governor of so-called Eastern Nile state has given strict directives to all Shilluk government’s civil servants to move out from its state and relocate to Western Nile State. Furthermore, the government of Eastern Nile State has embarked on distribution of Shilluk lands including the historical Shilluk town of Malakal amongst the Dinka of Balliet and Akok. These provocative and unconstitutional steps taken by the Eastern Nile State governor would create instability and bloodshed in Upper Nile State between Shilluk and Dinka communities with far reaching consequences to the implementation of the Signed Peace Agreement.

We are calling upon the IGAD and its partners to seriously come out and condemn government actions regarding its violation of Council of ministers communique issued on 31^stJanuary, 2016, specially the operationalization of the new 28 states. The risk of Somalization of South Sudan is becoming a reality under the continued violations of Signed Comprehensive Peace Agreement by Kiir’s dictatorial regime.

Tiger Faction New Forces (TFNF) reiterate its call that the government of South Sudan must immediately revoke the establishment order 36/2015 without delay in order to save the country from total collapse. The government must legally recognize Shilluk boundaries as the stood on 1/1/1956. If Kiir’s dictatorial regime continues its intransigence, our forces will wage a full scale war in Upper Nile and take back our ancestral land by any means necessary.In this regard we call on the civil population residing in Wadakon to immediately evacuate the town to avoid unnecessary lost of lives and properties and as we intent to stormWadakon at anytime.

Finally we call upon IGAD and the United Nations Security Council to exert more pressure on Kiir’s government and to utilize resolution 2206 (2015) which layout ground for targeted sanctions on individuals blocking peace in South Sudan. International Community must stand with the people of South Sudan and it is high time to send a strong message to Kiir and his administration that violation of provisions of the peace agreement will not be tolerated anymore.

Tiger would like to refute the claims by the SPLM-IO spokesperson James Gadet Dak, to the Sudan Tribune on 8^thFebruary, 2016 that there military base at Deba in Wedakona was attacked by Government forces. SPLM-IO does not have forces in Deba and it was Tiger Faction New Forces that have been fighting in that area with the Government since last week. We therefore, caution the SPLM-IO not claim victories scored by Tiger forces. Our movement is political and militarily independent from the SPLM-IO.

Long live the struggle of our People

Long live South Sudan

A luta continua

Brig Gen: Otowang Achwang