S. Sudan rebel official warns supporters over social media

[Elisabeth Janaina]

S. Sudan rebel official warns supporters over social media

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August 10, 2017 (JUBA) – South Sudan rebel chief of general staff,
Gen. Gatwech Dual has warned the armed opposition movement supporters
against posting on social media information relating to their
operations without seeking prior approval from the military
spokesperson’s office.

JPEG - 28.6 kb
Lt. Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual, the chief of staff of the SPLA-IO, talks
to the press at a rebel military site in Juba on April 25, 2016 (Photo
AFP/Charles Lomodong)

Dual said posting such information on social media could endanger
their lives and strategies of their armed forces operating in the
fields.

“I am therefore directing you the SPLA (IO) military spokesperson and
deputy spokesperson military spokesperson and all the SPLA (IO)
sectors, division and brigade media communication officers to strictly
adhere to the SPLA (IO) reporting and publication protocals by
channeling all military reports and communication directly to the
office of the SPLA (IO) military spokesperson and I must be saved with
copy before being disseminated and release to any media and the
public,” partly reads the statement Sudan Tribune obtained on
Thursday.

Dual appealed to SPLM-IO members, supporters and their sympathizers to
safeguard the security and safety of the armed opposition forces by
not exposing activities on social media forums.

He said posting such information could allow the enemy forces use
those details to counter their plans and future operation activities.

“As of now, the office of Brig. Gen William Gatjiath Deng will be the
one and only authority responsible for disseminating and releasing the
SPLA (IO) military affairs to the media and public,” he stressed.

The warning comes in the wake of the numerous reports that have been
circulating on social media from supporters, which detail activities
of the rebel movement.

The South Sudanese civil War is a conflict in South Sudan between
forces of the government and opposition forces. In December 2013,
President Salva Kiir accused his former deputy Riek Machar and ten
others of attempting a coup d’état.

Tens of thousands of people have been killed and over two million
displaced in the country’s worst-ever outbreak of violence since the
young nation seceded from Sudan in 2011.

(ST)