Addis Ababa, October 29, 2015 (SSNA) — South Sudanese rebels have on Monday seized barges which they suspected of transporting government’s weapons and ammunition along the White Nile.
The barges were carrying at least 16 peacekeepers of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
The armed opposition later revealed that the barges that it seized were occupied by the (UN) peacekeeping personnel, South Sudan’s government soldiers, security agents, and technicians.
At least 16 UN’s peacekeepers were aboard when the rebel forces detained the barges, according to the Associated Press (AP).
The UN says it is investigating the incident and cooperating with the leadership of the rebel forces.
Rebels also disclosed that they seized the barges at Kaka located on a rebel-held territory, adding that an order to free only the Peacekeepers has already been issued.
However, armed opposition says there is a ‘conspiracy’ between UN peacekeepers and Juba against the armed opposition after they found three officers of South Sudanese security agents, two SPLA’s soldiers, and six barge technicians aboard.