South Sudan says slain U.S journalist was fighting alongside rebels

JUBA, Aug. 28 — South Sudan said Sunday a U.S. journalist killed
in the country was fighting alongside rebels (SPLA-IO) allied to former
First Vice President Riek Machar.

South Sudan army (SPLA) deputy spokesman Col. Santo Domic Chol said
Christopher Allen was among the 16 rebel fighters killed during the
fighting on Saturday afternoon, between government troops and rebels in the
border town of Kaya located South East of the capital near the Ugandan
border. The man (Allen) was killed in the frontline together with the
(SPLA-IO) rebels. The battle went on for one hour and during the mop up the
body of the white man was found, Domic revealed in Juba. “He is a white
rebel because he was killed alongside rebels while he was holding a gun,”
he added.

Domic disclosed that they had identified the slain American journalist
after cross examining his corpse and details in Juba. He added that Allen’s
death vindicates and reinforces earlier suspicions by the South Sudanese
authorities about some western powers backing rebels in the more than three
years of violence that has killed tens of thousands and pushed millions as
refugees in neighbouring countries. Domic added further that this
sensitive matter remains the work of the political class in Juba to deal
with in collaboration with international diplomats. South Sudan descended
into violence in December 2013 after political dispute between President
Kiir and his former deputy Machar led to fighting that pitted mostly Dinka
ethnic soldiers loyal to Kiir against Machar’s Nuer ethnic group. The 2015
peace agreement to end the violence was again violated in July 2016 when
the rival factions resumed fighting in the capital forcing Machar to flee
into exile. – XINHUA