COBBRA Forces Press statement
“On behalf of the COBRA forces, we declare our opposition to the regime of Salva Kiir Mayardit.” reads a declaration signed by the Commander of Greater Pibor forces, Col. Paulino Zangil.
“The Greater Pibor Administration Area is a hoax. It is meant to deceive the people of Greater Pibor” Reads the statement.
“The Murle are for Federal System of Governance. We therefore declare Pibor as a State” the statement reads.
COBRA and Murle people have rejected to fight their neighbors and the SPLM/SPLA[IO] alongside allied forces of Salva Kiir, and now declares war against the government.
“We also reject the attempt by the regime to use the COBRA forces and Murle people to fight alongside it in this unjust war” Said Col. Paulion Zangil, the Commander of Greater Pibor Forces.
“The COBRA forces and the Murle People are for peaceful coexistence with their neighboring communities (Lou Nuer, Dinka, Anuak, Toposa, etc). As such, we condemn the regime’s tactics which promote ethnic conflict between neighboring communities” the statement reads.
“We are announcing through this press statement our joining the armed struggle led by SPLM/SPLA under the leadership of Dr. Riek Machar Teny” reads the declaration.
“We call upon all the people of Greater Pibor to join COBRA in the struggle. We also urge the rest of South Sudanese to rise up against the regime in Juba” the statement concludes.
This declaration was submitted and signed on Feb 13, 2015 by Col. Paulino Zangil, the Commander of Greater Pibor Forces through SPLM/SPLA.