[SUDANTRIBUNE] The opposition National Salvation Front (NAS) has expressed concerns over conflict between land grabbers and the youth in Juba County of South Sudan’s Central Equatoria State."On 25th February 2023, in Mori Boma, Gondokoro payam, forces from South Sudan Peoples Defense Forces (SSPDF), Riverine Defense Units, land grabbers and elements from Dinka Bor disguising as displaced persons, together using state resources and influence, looted, displaced, arrested, killed and grabbed land with impunity. Besides this, the SSPDF forces planned and bombarded Gondokoro Island using artillery guns, on the pretext that there is presence of NAS forces in the island, but the reality is that they wanted to displace and occupy the Bari land under this cover," the group said in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune Friday.
"This unprofessional behavior of the regime’s security forces culminated into massive displacement, death, injury, looting, destruction of property and houses," it added.
The hold-out group further said that government intelligence agencies on February 26th sent spies tothe rebel base in Mundri East to spark internal disagreements and possibly cause splits within the group’s rank and file.
"The Leadership of National Salvation Front (NAS) would like to inform its members, the people of South Sudan and members of International Community on the recent security activities of the regime of Salva Kiir and its security forces in Mundri Area Command of Western Equatoria State," the statement said.
"On 26th February 2023, NAS intelligence under Mundri Area Command intercepted activities and movement of South Sudan People’s Defense Forces SSPDF, National Security and some war brokers planning to infiltrate the ranks and files of NAS forces in Mundri Area Command, with the objectives to cause confusion and defections of the forces in the area," it added.
It said that a convoy of government forces triggered fighting with the rebel forces, resulting in the killing of at least 13 soldiers — including the alleged traitors — and capture of ammunitions, among others.