S. Sudan admits losing strategic town of Malakal to rebels
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June 30, 2015 (JUBA) - The South Sudanese government has admitted
losing the Upper Nile state town of Malakal, which fell to the armed
opposition forces over the weekend.
JPEG - 41.7 kb
South Sudan defense minister Kuol Manyang Juuk (ST/File)
Defense minister, Kuol Manyang said government forces pulled out of
the strategic town to avoid damage and loss of lives, but were within
the outskirts of Malakal.
“The rebels of Riek Machar are in Malakal”, Defence minister Kuol
Manyang told reporters on Tuesday. Our forces are around Malakal”, he
said, without much details.
The defense minister was reacting to a question asking about general
security situation in the country and who actually controlled the
strategic oil-rich state capital.
Local officials and residents separately told Sudan Tribune that the
armed fighters under the overall command of former government militia
commander, Johnson Olony and forces allied to the former vice
president Riek Machar under the command of General Gabriel Tanginye
remain in control of the town and that government forces were only
occupying areas within Lul bridge and some territories east of Akoka
county.
Minister Manyang, however, assured the population that pro-government
forces were capable of defending the young nation, including their
abilities to take full control of Malakal "soon".
The Upper Nile capital has changed hands several times between the
South Sudanese army and the armed opposition forces since violence
broke out in the country in 2013.
Tens of thousands of people have been killed and about 2 million
displaced since fighting broke out in South Sudan as aid agencies
warned of severe famine in coming months.
(ST)
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1 July 04:23, by Lotodo Awino Odug
Juba gave them a reason to fight on, let those who wants to bring
peace fast go and liberate it. the soldiers are disheartened by poor
reinstatement processes, they believe their lives are being put on the
line for nothing. I warned you about the nuances of reunification
about a week ago.(now it is back-firing and the worse is yet to come)
repondre message
1 July 06:40, by Mi diit
James Gatdet Dak correctly reported that the rebels took full
control of Malakal, but the lies, denials of the government said NO.
Now they have admitted finally that they lost Malakal. Who
will trust this government again? They lie, deny and admit later on.
Sorry!
repondre message
1 July 06:51, by Clausewitz
Mi diit:
Exactly just how many times must you be made aware of the
fact that truth is the first casualty of war and that neither side has
been particularly truthful? We must take every claim (s) and resultant
counter-claim (s) with a grain of salt and defer to impartial sources
to confirm what truly transpired.
repondre message
1 July 06:52, by Clausewitz
Like I’ve said before, both sides have abused the
truth; both sides have embellished, exaggerated, distorted and denied
the truth. Pretending that either side has been invariably truthful is
laughable. We don’t have to refer too far back in the past to dredge
up instances in which the rebels were clearly lying. The claimed
partial capture of Paloich is a case in point.
repondre message
1 July 07:02, by Mi diit
Rommel (clausewitz),
Unless you are not honest here, the rebels are far
more truthful than that so-called government which was formed only to
lie.
When rebels said they captured Melut, government
denied it, but it was truthful. When rebels withdrew from Melut they
said it. They were only saying they were mobilizing and besieging
Paloich, but did not say they captured it. They shelled it.
repondre message
1 July 07:05, by Mi diit
When rebels shot helicopter gunship in Melut,
they said it. Government denied it. But later families of the pilot
killed in that helicopter shot down mourned the death of their son and
this revealed the truth of the matter.
When rebels captured Malakal, they said it.
Government first denied, but now defense minister admitted.
Philip Aguer is a congenital liar who should
not be trusted any more
repondre message
1 July 04:27, by Clausewitz
Who do you think you’re fooling, Kuol Manyang? The SPLA is not
just on the outskirts of Malakal... you are 35 km outside the State
capital. You didn’t vacate Malakal in order to prevent any damage to
an already completely destroyed city — you were forced out of Malakal
because you didn’t preempt this by taking the West bank of the Nile.
Your sugar coated lies will not help the situation.
repondre message
1 July 05:54, by Ahmed Chol
The number of soldiers who will die in this town call Malakal
on both sides will be more than all the number of soldiers dead in all
towns combined when the war end at sometimes in the next 20 years or
so. Any soldier deployed around Malakal on either side by the rebels
or by the government is destined to die whether he likes it or not.
There is no escape!
repondre message
1 July 06:18, by Lotodo Awino Odug
it is getting too much for soldiers, gelweng of Uppernile
and jonglei should mobilize and do what the Bul did in Unity state, to
help the army liberate Akobo, Malakal and Pagak. this capture and
recapture is waste of lives. they need to be push to the borders
before any peace can be signed.
repondre message
1 July 06:44, by Mi diit
Lotodo,
Do you think it is that easy as you said? My friend it
is not like eating kisira or drinking wine. It is deadly and this is
why the government despite all the weapons and munitions, it has taken
18 months failing to defeat the rebels. Back to square one in Malakal.
The rebels will now use the good airport to....
repondre message
1 July 06:53, by hellonearth
Lotodo,
What has been happening the last 19 months? You failed to defeat
us isn’t that so? So all your cheap talk should be damped into the
toilet. Your Dinka born to rule rubbish time is over. You will now
face the wrath of the people of South Sudan. Mark my words
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