BREAKING | SPLA-IO commander survives ‘assassination plot’
A senior Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) division operation commanders for Western Equatoria State has survived a grenade attack on Friday in Juba.
The incident happened at 8 pm in Leamon Gaba of Juba’s suburb, according to Francis Manga, one of the survivors of the attack.
“It happened between 8:00-8:10 p.m. yesterday at home, we were making a rakuba (hut). We took chairs and sat some distance away from that spot a few minutes after we left work,” Manga said.
“As we were attempting to settle down, something came from the main road and landed in the area where we had been working. Immediately it blasted. It was there that we discovered grenades had been tossed in. Thank God, no one was injured,” he added.
He said the incident happened when they were seated together with one of his brothers, Gen. Tartizio Usini of the SPLA-IO division operation commanders for Western Equatoria State.
“Security had indeed arrived to investigate the situation. They did discover that it was grenade explosion, though not immediately, even at that time and today we went with them for the statement to check if we had any previous issues with some individuals,” Mnaga added.
He said Gen. Usini was in Juba for optical treatment.
However, Francis said this was the second time such an attempt has been made adding that in April last year an unidentified armed man broke into the same home and opened fire on individuals.
He said the incident led to the injury of his brother to the leg.
The source dismissed having any issues with anyone despite the second attack on the residence.
“I do not know what is going on, as it happened again. They have tried, but they did not succeed. Maybe there is someone being influenced from somewhere, which we have yet to find out.”
The survivor said the motives for the grenade attack at their home are still unknown since the police and security were doing investigations. Manga claimed that that their family was a “primary target”.
“I cannot say the attack was specifically directed at my brother, who happened to be the SPLA-IO division operation commander in WES, because there are many SPLA-IO Generals in and around Juba, and it would have happened to them before it happened to my brother,” he argued.
“But as I said, it could be somebody from somewhere trying to implement some projects against us since it happened before last year,” Manga stressed.
Albino Lual, a police investigator at the Gurei police station, who verified the occurrence, said an investigation has been initiated.
“Yes, that happened last night about 8:15 p.m., when someone came and threw the grenade into someone’s home and fled, despite the fact that no one was hurt.”
According to the police investigator, the attackers’ objectives are unknown since the suspect has not been arrested.
He promised that once the investigation has been completed the facts would be known.
