August 15, 2022 (JUBA) – A rebel movement led by South Sudan’s former army chief of staff, Gen Paul Malong Awan has threatened full military operations after the alleged capture of one of their top field commanders.

“We would like to make it crystal clear that from today onwards, we will conduct our military operations in all locations in the country and our beloved civilians are urged to avoid all combat areas. On the other hand, all our forces are directed to vividly wield up their military arsenals and stay on maximum alert, because this is the only belligerent language that the government in Juba understands,” South Sudan United Front/Army (SSUF/A) said in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Monday.

The group claimed Brig. General Akol Ngong Ayok was captured with others on Saturday in Bar rurud area, causing panic among the population.

SSUF/A’s spokesman Col. Philip Deng Kuol said government forces moved their base in the area and attacked their outpost, resulting in the capture of their operation commander with five others in Northern Bahr El Ghazal.

The attacks, he stressed, undermine the cessation of hostilities agreement to which the holdout groups subscribed and also pledged to respect.

“The office of SSUF/A official military spokesman is in a position to inform the Community of Sant’Egidio, the CTSAMVM, and the general public at large, that yesterday at around 4:30 am, SSUF/A military base under the command of deputy sector (2) commander Maj. Gen. Peter Lueth Akolda in the Bar-rurud outpost came under heavy attacks by the government forces under the directives of an SSPDF commander, Maj. Gen. Chol Madol”, Kuol said in the statement.

He added, “It’s unfortunate that during the desperate retaliations, our area operation commander Brig. Gen. Akol Ngong Ayok was taken hostage alongside 5 non-commissioned officers including one officer by the name of Maj. Wol Bol who was caught differently during the incident five days back and we demand their immediate release from that military custody”.

The Malong-led group vowed military operations and urged its forces to remain on high alert should government forces continue aggressing them.

SSUF is one of the holdout groups participating in the Rome peace process.

The rebel movement is part of the umbrella of the South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance (SSOMA), which includes the National Salvation Front (NAS) led by Gen. Thomas Cirillo and the Real SPLM led by Pagan Amum.