NAS says SPLA-IO kidnapped its own officers

Leader of South Sudan’s National Salvation Front (NAS) General Thomas Cirilo appears during an interview in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in 2017 (Photo credit: Getty Images)

May 15, 2020 (SSNN) – South Sudan’s National Salvation Front (NAS) led by former deputy chief of staff of the army General Thomas Cirilo Swaka has denied that it kidnapped eight SPLA-IO officers saying the main armed opposition group did that to its own officers.

SPLA-IO deputy spokesman, Col. Lam Paul Gabriel, said in a statement yesterday that eight officers of the Machar-led movement including three high-ranking officers were kidnapped by NAS last Sunday following an ambush.

However, in a response, the NAS refuted the accusations saying the SPLA-IO officers were arrested by a senior fellow officer on the orders of the SPLA-IO commander in Central Equatoria Gen. Mabieh Gar.

“These officers were arrested by Gen Moses Lukujo on 5th April 2020 under the instruction of Gen Mabieh after protesting the promotion of Gen Moses Lukujo into the rank of Maj. Gen and his subsequent appointment as Division Commander despite being junior to these two Brigadiers,” NAS spokesman Suba Samuel Manase said in a statement seen by SSNN.

The rebel spokesman said the claim by the SPLA-IO that NAS kidnapped its officers was a cover-up for internal divisions among the main armed opposition group’s ranks.

Fighting between the holdout rebel group and South Sudan army escalated in recent days with NAS saying government and its peace partner, SPLA-IO were laughing attacks in violation to the ceasefire agreement.

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