S. Sudan rebels say government is preparing for major offensive

April 12, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) – South Sudan’s armed opposition faction(SPLA-IO) led by former vice-president Riek Machar has accused president Salva Kiir’s government of preparing for a major multi-front offensive against rebel positions despite the expected resumption of peace talks in Ethiopia.

“The government troops of general Salva [Kiir] from Juba are advancing to our territory in order to launch its attack on Bentiu in three axes,” said a Sunday press statement from the office of the military spokesman, Lony Ngundeng, seen by Sudan Tribune.

“The first expedition is advancing through the Nile River from Juba heading to Adok to capture that area to secure their river route to Malakal and other parts in Upper Nile areas,” it added.

The statement further claimed that other government’s troops were advancing from the southern direction in Lakes state towards Panyijiar and Mayiandit counties with the aim to regain these territories.

It accused the government of trying to jeopardise the peace process and warned of retaliation.

Machar’s spokesperson, James Dak confirmed the planned attacks. However, South Sudan army’s spokesman, Col. Philip Aguer could not be reached for comments on these allegations,

Peace talks aimed to end the more than 15-month-long war between rival forces loyal to president Kiir and his former deputy Machar collapsed on 6 March when the two principals could not agree on almost every contentious issue they tried to tackle.

Fighting has since resumed particularly in the three states of Unity, Upper Nile and Jonglei in the oil-rich Upper Nile region.

The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has, however, expanded the mediation to include member states of African Union (AU), European Union (EU), troika countries (US, UK and Norway), China and the United Nations (UN), with the negotiations expected to resume this month in Addis Ababa.

There is also speculation that the IGAD-Plus mediation team has been drafting a final peace agreement in what seems to be a final round of the talks to be imposed on the two rival leaders to sign and end the war.

Threats of sanctions including travel bans, assets freeze and arms embargo have also been waved in the face of the warring parties should they refuse to sign a final peace agreement.

(ST)