Taban Deng’s SPLA-IO faction calls for release of detained officials in Bieh

[Elisabeth Janaina]

Taban Deng’s SPLA-IO faction calls for release of detained officials in Bieh

South Sudan’s armed opposition faction (SPLM-IO) loyal to First
Vice-President, Taban Deng Gai, has issued a statement confirming the
capture and detention of government officials in Bieh state.

The number of the officials captured remains unclear. Rebel officials
said they had captured 25 soldiers and a county commissioner while the
pro-government faction mentioned 14 people only.

Dickson Gatluak Jock, military spokesman for South Sudanese Vice
President Taban Deng Gai, said a faction allied to the former first
vice president Riek Machar in the area had intercepted and ambushed 14
peace delegates to Akobo.

“SPLA-IO is calling for the unconditional release of 14 members of
peace mission delegates who went to Akobo purposely to embrace and
disseminate peace messages. These persons are not for military mission
but civil administrators who are there on the ground for peace,” said
Dickson Gatluak in a statement released to the public on Friday.

He added, “We urge the local authority specially the youth from
greater Akobo to guarantee the safety of the detainees. These
individuals must be treated as peace makers, not prisoners of war
(POW).”

The opposition faction allied to Riek Machar said about 25 government
soldiers and a county commissioner of Dengjok were captured in Akobo
area on Wednesday.