Army driven back in Unity, Upper Nile, say S. Sudan rebels

March 25, 2015 (BENTIU-MAYO) – Rebel forces in South Sudan’s Unity and Upper
Nile states say they have repulsed pro-government attacks on several of their defensive positions on Wednesday.

Captain Paul Malith Koang, opposition spokesperson in Western bank of Upper Nile state, told Sudan Tribune by phone that forces loyal to president Salva Kiir had launched multiple attacks.

He said government troops had been driven back from Khor-Athuoy to Wedakona town after attacking rebel positions about 10am (local time) on Wednesday.

Koang has accused the government of failing to implement a cessation of hostilities agreement signed by both warring parties in January 2014.

Fighting was also reported in Unity state capital Bentiu on Monday and Tuesday, with pro-government troops claiming to have regained more ground to the south of Bentiu before advancing to Nhialdiu payam (district).

However, rebels dismissed the claims, saying government troops had been repulsed from Bentiu and Rubkotna county.

Maj. Weirial Puok Baluang, a press secretary for Unity state’s military governor claimed the South Sudanese army (SPLA) had suffered heavy losses.

“Our forces have repulsed [a] provocation by pro-government [troops] on Wednesday
to [the] main capital, Bentiu, and our forces are still chasing them inside the state capital,” said Baluang in an interview by satellite phone.

He claimed at least 10 government soldiers were killed and another six captured alive on Wednesday, a claim Sudan Tribune has not been able to independently verify.

South Sudan’s warring parties are due to resume another round of peace talks next month in Ethiopia.

Direct talks between the government and the country’s rebel faction recently stalled and there is still no resolution on the contentious issue of power-sharing.

Meanwhile, the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) said two million people have been displaced as a result of the ongoing conflict, calling on donors to contribute more to address food security issues for South Sudanese refugees who have fled to neighbouring countries.

Many of South Sudan’s villages are in remote area and lack access to road connections, with UN agencies now airlifting food items to areas cut off.

Worsening food shortages across the country has seen thousands abandon their homes in remote areas.

(ST)