South Sudan army says Malakal under government control
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December 29, 2013 (JUBA) - The South Sudan army declared on Sunday
that it was in full control of Malakal, the Upper Nile State capital
after a fierce battle with rebels.
JPEG - 21.6 kb
South Sudan Vice President James Igga (C) announces to the media the
recapture of Malakal town by government forces from the rebels, in the
capital Juba December 28, 2013 (REUTERS/James Akena)
The announcement, which could not be independently verified, brings to
an end a week-long fight over the town which was partially in control
of rebels loyal to former vice president Riek Machar.
Colonel Phillip Aguer, spokesman of the South Sudan People’s
Liberation Army (SPLA) said the army had liberated Malakal from
‘‘hooligans.’’
“The situation in Malakal has changed since Friday. You know there
were attacks in the SPLA headquarters in Malakal, but it is controlled
at the moment. The SPLA forces are pursuing them [rebels] outside the
town,” Aguer told Sudan Tribune on Sunday.
The SPLA spokesman said the security situation in Bor, the capital of
Jonglei state was not ‘‘very bad’’ adding that government forces were
fending off attacks from the rebels who lost control of the town last
week.
The political crisis in South Sudan was triggered off two weeks ago
when fighting broke out in the barracks among members of the
presidential guard in Juba before spreading to residential areas and
extending to Bor, the state capital of Jonglei.
Several members who are mainly from the Nuer ethnic group fled to two
separate camps of the United Nations in Juba for fear of allegedly
being attacked by the Dinka. Meanwhile in Bor, the commander of the
SPLA’s 8th division, Peter Gadet Yak and James Kong Chuol, commander
of the 4th division in Unity state, switched allegiance to Riek
Machar.
The now former SPLA commanders, like Machar, are from the Nuer tribe,
the second largest in South Sudan after the Dinka.
Even though the government says Malakal is now under its control, the
security situation appears fluid. The whereabouts of the governor,
Simon Kun Puoc, remains unknown while some of his cabinet ministers
have reportedly fled to a UN camp. Others have fled to their villages
and other towns. This followed the defection of the 7th division
commander of forces around Malakal.
Despite that, Aguer says the army is in control of Malakal and that
the security situation in the country had improved.
“The general security situation in the country except few places where
SPLA forces have been forced to defend and protect lives and
properties of our civil population is normal. Juba as you all know now
is under maximum security control", he said.
"Civilians have started to return in Bor. SPLA forces there are on
high alert, given that we have received reports that Dr. Riek Machar
has decided to mobilize the ’’white army’’ to launch an attack on Bor.
But the situation there is quiet at the moment. It is under full
control,” added the army spokesperson.
(ST)
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