The SPLA-IO in Unity State and one of the barge captains denied allegations that several boats and barges were being held at Adok Port in Leer County.
The denial came two days after South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) spokesman Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang said military intelligence and complaints indicated that several barges and boats—including one belonging to the United Nations and another owned by a Sudanese businessman—had been detained and hijacked by SPLA-IO fighters and the White Army in Fangak and Leer counties of Jonglei and Unity states, respectively.
Maj. Gen. Lul said the army chief ordered the “immediate and unconditional release” of the vessels, warning that failure to comply would result in “punitive aerial and riverine actions.”
However, SPLA-IO Sector Two spokesperson Yai Pazale told Radio Tamazuj Sunday that no barges had been detained by their forces in Leer County, calling the allegations unfounded.
“We didn’t detain the boats and barges. That information is fake information from the SSPDF, and what they want to do is just bombard innocent civilians in Leer County in the name of detaining boats and one barge,” Pazale said.
He attributed the prolonged presence of the boats and barges at Adok Port to insecurity in Mayendit, Koch, Guit counties and other areas.
Radio Tamazuj also spoke with Diang Kuol Kur, the captain of one of the barges that arrived at Adok Port after violence erupted in Upper Nile State in late February.
Diang said they were not being held by the SPLA-IO but were staying due to safety concerns.
“We are not under detention at the SPLA-IO base in Adok Port, and it’s not true what those who say we are detained claim. We just fear [traveling] since we arrived at Adok Port, and that is the reason we have not gone to Upper Nile State,” he said.
The barges and boats were loaded with mixed goods from Juba, according to Kuol.
Kuol revealed that six boats and barges were currently at Adok Port, including one hired by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), while the other five were destined for Fangak, Malakal and Melut.
“The barge hired by IOM will remain in Adok Port, and the rest—five boats—will continue to three locations: Fangak County, Malakal town and Melut County,” he said, adding that the vessels belonged to private South Sudanese business owners.