The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) has condemned the detention of General Gabriel Duop Lam, calling it unlawful.
General Duop, who serves as the Co-Chair of the Joint Defense Board (JDB), Deputy Chief of Defense Forces for the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF), and Acting Chief of Staff for the SPLA-IO, was reportedly arrested on Tuesday following clashes between armed youth and SSPDF soldiers in Nasir.
Hon. Pal Mai Deng, the Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation and official spokesperson of SPLM-IO, described the detention as a violation of the Revitalized Agreement.
“This morning (Tuesday), Lt. Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam, the Deputy Chief of Defense Forces (CDF) of the SSPDF, Acting Chief of Staff of the SPLA (IO), and Co-Chair of the Joint Defense Board (JDB), was arrested by Gen. Paul Nang, the Chief of Defense Forces of the SSPDF,” said Hon. Pal Deng.
He further stated that this action threatens to destabilize the JDB, a crucial institution under the Revitalized Peace Agreement that oversees the command and control of all forces. “This act puts the entire peace agreement at risk,” he added.
Hon. Pal Deng also expressed grave concern over the heavy deployment of armed vehicles around the residence of First Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar.
“We are deeply worried about the significant presence of SSPDF forces near the residence of H.E. Dr. Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon, the First Vice President and Chairman/Commander-in-Chief of the SPLM/A (IO),” he said.
According to Hon. Deng, these actions undermine trust and confidence among the parties and threaten ongoing efforts to de-escalate the violence that erupted recently in Nasir County, Upper Nile State.
The SPLM-IO has called for the immediate release of General Gabriel Duop Lam and urged all parties to work together to halt the violence in Upper Nile.
“We urge the guarantors of the Agreement and all stakeholders to intervene and prevent a return to full-scale conflict,” the statement read.
The SPLM-IO reaffirmed its commitment to fully implementing the peace agreement in both letter and spirit.
Meanwhile, SSPDF Spokesperson Gen. Lul Raui Koang has yet to respond to repeated inquiries from Doran Media. No official statement has been issued regarding the matter, which has sparked widespread attention on social media since Tuesday.
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