BOR, FEBRUARY 15th 2023 (ThejubamirrorNews) – South Sudan authorities in Jonglei State on Wednesday warned of an attack by Agwelek militia fighters from Upper Nile state.
Speaking to Sudans Post on Wednesday, Fangak state commissioner Biel Boutros Biel claimed that Agwelek forces are on their way to attack Fangak and Pigi Counties using the land and the river Nile to advance towards the two Jonglei counties.
“An intelligence report to my office shows that Agwelek is going to attack Fangak and Pigi Counties in the next 24 or 48 hours. They will attack Pigi by badges before they proceed to attack Fangak and also they will attack Fangak on both river and on land,” he said.
The Agwelek fighters are allied to Gen. Johnson Olony, a military commander who opposes the transitional government in South Sudan.
Gen. Olony has been fighting government forces since September 2019, when he announced he would replace Vice-President Riek Machar as leader of opposition forces.
Biel accused the group he called “bloody traders from Juba” of supporting Agwelek forces to destabilize Northern Jonglei in what could appear to be retribution for last year’s clashes when Lou-Nuer youth invaded the Chollo Kingdom.
This comes barely a few days after the United Nations Mission in South Sudan warned of violence following military buildup by Agwelek militia fighters in Upper Nile state.
“Our peace efforts are being frustrated by Agwelek and bloody traders from Juba who are benefiting from violence by allowing Agwelek forces to destabilize Northern Jonglei by giving them a passage through Malakal,” he said.
He called on Presidency and authorities of Upper Nile to stop the Agwelek forces from attacking Fangok and Pigi counties.
“We call on your leadership and Presidency to urge Malakal Government not to allow passage for the badges to us and for ground forces, we will defend ourselves,” he said.
“If Agwelek forces attack us again for the third time, it will seriously wound the peace Agreement 2018 in northern parts of Jonglei State and will set a bad relationship between our state and Upper Nile State, especially our people here,” he added.
