South Sudan army denies rebel claim of downing plane in Upper Nile
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July 5, 2015 (JUBA) - South Sudanese army denied on Sunday claims by
the armed opposition faction of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement
(SPLM-IO) led by the former vice-president, Riek Machar, they shot
down a government military aircraft in Upper Nile state.
JPEG - 12.8 kb
South Sudanese soldiers are seen outside the governor’s compound, in
Malakal, on January 12, 2014 (Photo AFP /Simon Maina)
The spokesperson of the government forces colonel Philip Aguer told
Sudan Tribune on Sunday that the general headquarters of the
government army (SPLA) was unaware of the shooting down of a military
aircraft in the oil-producing state of upper Nile state.
“I am not aware of this development. When did it occur? All our forces
around Malakal are accounted for,” Aguer said on Sunday.
The SPLA spokesperson was reacting to the reports quoting the SPLM-IO
fighters claiming that they have shot down on Sunday morning a gunship
while it was bombarding their positions near Malakal.
(SPLM/SPLA-IO) “forces under the overall command of Major General
Johnson Olony shot down another helicopter gunship on Sunday morning
at Kodok in Fashoda (Upper Nile) state,” said James Gatdet Dak, in a
press statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Sunday.
He said this came after a failed attempt by government forces to
recapture the state capital Malakal which is under rebel control since
28 June.
All the crew members, pilot as well as co-pilot on board were
confirmed dead according to rebels commander general Carlo Kuol.
Last May, the rebel group said it shot a helicopter gunship over Melut
town, near the main Paloch oilfields, killing a number of soldiers on
board. Government denied the claim. However, a later mourning for a
dead pilot killed in the shooting of the gunship revealed the
incident.
SHOOTING IN NIMULE
In a separate development, Dak also claimed their forces around Nimule
town in Eastern Equatoria state at South Sudan’s border with Uganda
under the overall command of Major General Martin Kenyi pre-empted
attack by government forces on their positions in the area.
“Clashes occurred inside Nimule town on Sunday at 1am until 4am when
our forces withdrew from the town after destroying government’s war
logistics in the area,” he said.
He added that opposition forces will be forced to close the trade
route between Uganda and South Sudan at the Nimule border unless
president Salva Kiir’s government accepted peace and signed an
agreement with the rebels.
A resident of Nimule town confirmed the shooting but could not
ascertain who was responsible for the incident.
“The shooting started at about 1:30am on Sunday....not far from my
house. I was awakened by the loud sound of AK47s,” Philip Thon Aleu
posted in the social media on Sunday.
“After about 10 minutes, while I was now guessing what was happening,
sounds of guns came from Malakaya suburb. I made phone calls there and
I was told some gunmen attacked a check point. After another few
minutes, several shots were fired from Malakaya again and a thick
smoke arose. Three trucks are set ablaze,” Aleu further narrated on
his Facebook.
This is the second time the rebels claimed carrying out attack in the
area. Last year, forces under the command of General Martin Kenyi
claimed attack on government’s forces in the area and warned they
would close the main trade route linking South Sudan with Uganda.
(ST)
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6 July 06:11, by Mi diit
So this time Philip Aguer said he is not aware of the shot down
helicopter gunship on Sunday. This is a better way of denying it than
to totally dismiss it. Soon Aguer will be made aware that the gunship
was truly shot down.
But he lied that all their forces are accounted for. What about
the dead ones?
Nimule was on fire as a warning!
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