SSPDF commander visits Bilpam as spokesman clears death rumours

JUBA — A senior commander of the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF), Brig. Gen. Gabriel Bol Anuer has appeared at the military’s General Headquarters in Bilpam, Juba, in a move aimed at dispelling widespread rumours that he was killed in recent fighting in Jonglei State.

The visit, confirmed Tuesday by SSPDF spokesperson Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang follows social media claims alleging that Brig. Gen. Bol Anuer died in combat in Pajut, Duk County. The military leadership says the reports are entirely false and were circulated as part of a misinformation campaign.

In a brief statement, Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai said the commander is “very much alive” and personally paid a courtesy visit to the SSPDF headquarters to put to rest speculation surrounding his alleged death.

“This post serves to support a previous message confirming that the senior officer was not killed in action in Pajut, Duk County, Jonglei State, as falsely claimed by SPLA-IO propagandists,” Lul Ruai stated.

Rumours of the commander’s death had spread rapidly online over the weekend, triggering uncertainty at a time of heightened insecurity in parts of Jonglei. The SSPDF said the deliberate circulation of false information is intended to mislead the public and erode confidence in the armed forces.

To reinforce its position, the SSPDF released photographs showing Brig. Gen. Bol Anuer alongside Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang at the Bilpam headquarters, offering visual confirmation of his safety.

The military spokesperson urged the public to exercise restraint and verify information before sharing it, warning that misinformation can fuel panic and destabilise communities.

“To those who easily believe rumours and lies spread by SPLA-IO propagandists, please develop a wait-and-see attitude to benefit from accurate, reliable and verifiable news shared by the SSPDF spokesperson and other government spokespersons,” he added.

The episode underscores the increasing role of information manipulation in South Sudan’s conflict landscape, where online propaganda and unverified reports often accompany military tensions.