Home | News    Monday 18 May 2015

Ugandan army denies losing helicopter to South Sudan rebels

May 17, 2015 (JUBA/KAMPALA) – The spokesperson for Uganda’s People Defense Forces (UPDF), Lt. Col. Paddy Ankunda has dismissed claims that its helicopter was allegedly shot down by South Sudanese rebels in the Upper Nile state capital, Malakal.

Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) spokesperson, Lt Col Paddy Ankunda Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) spokesperson, Lt Col Paddy Ankunda (new vision)

South Sudanese rebels alleged they shot down a helicopter gunship belonging to the Ugandan air force, as it tried to bomb their forces in Malakal on Sunday.
“Our gallant forces shot down a helicopter gunship on Sunday which came to bomb our troops that have controlled Malakal town since Saturday,” James Gatdet Dak, the spokesperson for South Sudan’s rebel leader, Riek Machar told Sudan Tribune on Sunday.


“It was downed at 4:10pm by our forces under the overall command of Major General Johnson Olony,” he added,
But the Uganda army spokesperson described the rebels’ claim as a “bad lie”
"All Ugandan air crafts are accounted for Uganda has no air crafts in South Sudan. Claims by Riek Machar rebels to have hit one are a bad lie", Ankunda said on Monday.


The South Sudanese army (SPLA) spokesperson, Col. Phillip Aguer separately told Sudan Tribune that the rebels’ claim regarding the chopper was “ rubbish and baseless propaganda”.
“The general command of the SPLA would like to assure the general public of our readiness and capability to defend this country. The rebels of Riek Machar will be defeated with their propaganda”, he said by phone.


Gordon Buay, a South Sudanese representative in the US, also dismissed the rebels’ claim.
“It is a lie. There is nothing like that. No helicopter has been brought down by the rebels. All that they have reported is propaganda. It does not carry any truth”, Buay told Sudan Tribune.
According to Buay, Uganda troop are only present in Juba and the Jonglei state capital, Bor.


SECURITY COUNCIL CONDEMNS FIGHTING
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) strongly condemned the large-scale attack by the country’s armed opposition forces in the Upper Nile state capital on 15 May.
"The members of the Security Council condemn in the strongest terms the repeated violations of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement ... and underscored that there is no military solution to this conflict," the 15-nation UN body said in a statement.


Members of the Council called on all the parties to engage meaningfully in the peace process so as to bring about a political solution to the crisis and an end to the conflict.
It further renewed its calls for the parties to the conflict to allow and facilitate the full, safe and unhindered access of humanitarian personnel, equipment and supplies to all those in need and timely delivery of humanitarian assistance in accordance with relevant provisions of international law and UN guiding principles of humanitarian assistance.


The UN says over 2 million people have been displaced, 1.5 million internally, and 500,000 in neighbouring countries as a result of the South Sudan conflict and that more than 2.5 million people face severe food insecurity, especially in greater Upper Nile region.
(ST)


COMMENTS:

18 May 11:13, by Juma El-Saidi.

Eh! You have to defend the sources where dollar is coming from otherwise bread will be out.Look at the prices in the market and look at the exchange rate 100 ssp is only 10.000 Ush this used to be 50.000 ush per 100ssp. Salva Kiir Shame on you the Uganda have milked all the dollars and am shameful to see that you went to World Bank and you were refused to borrow hahahaha failed nation Under Kiir

18 May 11:41, by Kumbo

Bold lies from Uganda every body iPhilip aguering a small child know that Uganda Airforce is in S. Sudan defending this warlord Slave Kiir Mayar idiot there is no way to deny that fact yes the chopper was gun down finish.
otherwise it is Paddy Ankunda & philip aguer who are layers

18 May 17:12, by Bentiu Sudan

The Ugandan’s gunship that was shot down in Malakal is laying down in the Booth Village near Malakal. Any willing person can go there and take photo of the damaged gunship.

http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article55016