Government forces violated the permanent ceasefire by attacking areas controlled by rival forces in Bentiu in September, the ceasefire and transitional security monitors have said.

In a report by the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Monitoring Mechanism, about 200-300 youth aligned to the government were mobilized from the areas of Nhialdiu, Northern Liech State.

It says the youth were used to launch preliminary attacks on the IO forces along the Pakur road to Jazeera from Rubkona, including Ding Ding, Dhorbor and Kaljaak.

CTSAMM says they monitored the situation as it developed with the help of their local sources on ground, and physically witnessed some of the movements of the government forces.

One-sided report

However, the SPLA says the report is one-sided, and has not documented violations in other parts of the country.

SPLA spokesman Brigadier Lul Ruai said the report has not mentioned violations in Fashoda state.

“It’s only concentrating on one side, and it is only concentrating on Northern Liech State. We have had serious violations in Fashoda state, and they have been quiet,” Brig Ruai said.

“They are not looking at both sides of the same coin. The violation in Fashoda, especially the one on our forces in Warijok and Lelo, was a clear violation.”

The CTSAMM warns that the situation is still volatile in Bentiu.

Among the recommendations, the ceasefire monitors have asked the JMEC chairperson to work with the Transitional Government to resolve the matter at a political level.

They’ve also recommended that the Joint Military Ceasefire Commission should freeze forces from the two sides from aggression, no matter the provocation.