South Sudanese rebels advance on Jonglei's Duk county
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March 26, 2014 (ADDIS ABABA/JUBA) - South Sudanese rebels of the
SPLM/A In Opposition said on Tuesday their forces have advanced on
Jonglei state's Duk county after repulsing government troops and their
foreign allies who had attacked their defence positions on Monday in
the Greater Bor area.
JPEG - 26.3 kb
A South Sudan army soldier rests in Bor town, after its recapture on
December 25, 2013 a week after the town fell to rebels loyal to rebel
leader Riek Machar.(Photo Reuters/James Akena)
In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune, the rebels military
spokesperson, Brig Lul Ruai Koang, said that rebels had taken full
control of the main town of Duk Padiet in Duk county after defeating
the government forces in the area.
Duk Padiet town is north-east of Jonglei state's capital, Bor, and
strategic area for the defence of the state capital.
In Juba, the South Sudanese army confirmed the capture of the area by
the rebels. He further said the fighters of the SPLM-In-Opposition
launched their attack on Duk County on Tuesday.
"The rebels of Riek Machar attacked and overran Duk County yesterday
at around 5:00pm. They are now in the area," Aguer told Sudan Tribune
on Wednesday.
This attack is "a clear violation of the cessation of hostilities
agreement, which they have never respected. The SPLA has a right to
defend itself and to protect the civil population and their
properties," he further stressed.
Aguer , however, did not elaborate on the army plans to retake the
control of the area, although military sources claimed that government
troops were regrouping and organising themselves for a riposte against
the rebels.
However the rebel spokesperson claimed that their forces were
advancing and pursuing the government troops to the south-west of the
area.
"The government troops are currently being pursued in directions
towards Poktap payam west. A lot of equipment have been already
captured from the fleeing (government forces)," Koang claimed.
On Sunday, the former governor of Jonglei state and current lawmaker
representing Duk County in the national parliament in Juba, Philip
Thon Leek, appealed to the government to deploy more troops to the
area as the rebels were mobilising for imminent attacks.
However, the rebels said they were in preparations in anticipation of
an imminent attack from the government against their defensive
positions in the county.
The rebels spokesperson, Koang, further dismissed the government
announcements that the SPLA forces were advancing on Nasir, calling it
a "wishful thinking".
On Monday, the SPLA spokesperson, Col. Philip Aguer, told Sudan
Tribune that government troops (SPLA) were battling the rebels' for
control of their stronghold town of Nasir.
REBELS ACCUSE JEM
In a related development, the South Sudanese rebels have also renewed
accusations against the Sudanese rebel group, Justice and Equality
Movement (JEM), claiming they launched attacks on their forces in
Unity state.
Brig Ruai said a JEM convoy of 10 vehicles attacked the South Sudanese
rebels in Koc county, but were however repulsed, adding they inflicted
heavy casualties on the foreign rebels that are allegedly allied to
the government army.
"In the last three days (22, 23, and 24-3-2014), Kiir's allies from
the Justice and Equality Movement fighters attacked our positions at
Buaw payam in Koc county, Unity state," partly reads the statement.
Koang further detailed that "8 [JEM] fighters killed, 2 Toyota Land
Cruisers mounted with 12.7, 4 PKM light machine guns, 5 RPGs 7 with a
lot of shells and ammunitions" were captured from the foreign rebels.
The Sudanese group in different statements to Sudan Tribune denied
their involvement in the internal South Sudanese conflict and
expressed willingness to facilitate a negotiated settlement for the
conflict.
(ST)
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