September 30, 2020 (ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia): IGAD Special Envoy for South Sudan is dismayed by reports of fighting between forces affiliated to Gen. Moses Lokujo and SPLM/A-IO forces in Endejo in Yei River area on 29th September 2020. It will be recalled that Gen. Lokujo recently announced his defection from SPLM/A-IO to the SSPDF.
The Special Envoy is further alarmed by reports that the conflict has spilled over to Moroto, which hosts a Training Centre where unified forces of SSPDF, SPLM/A-IO and SSOA are training.
The Special Envoy calls on both parties to refrain from fighting and prevent further escalation. The Special Envoy also calls on the Parties to the Agreement to put an end to the sustained culture of defections and desist from recognizing and supporting defectors from Parties to the Agreement with armed forces as it is significantly undermining the implementation of the Agreement and has the potential to reignite conflicts in the country if it is allowed to continue unabated.
In this regard, the Special Envoy is encouraged by and commends the swift measure taken by the JDB leadership in convening an emergency meeting that condoned the attack and vowed to summon the officers responsible for the confrontation, and resolved to send a fact-finding mission to the area to investigate and report on what transpired. The Special Envoy urges CTSAMVM to immediately dispatch a team to investigate and verify the reports.