Government dispatches more forces to E. Equatoria after clashes with rebels

August 19, 2015 (JUBA) – South Sudanese army (SPLA) announced on Wednesday it has deployed more soldiers to Eastern Equatoria state where it claimed rebel forces allied to the former vice president Riek Machar overran a key town of Pageri, allegedly in response to unprovoked offensive carried out by the government forces on their position in the area.

Nimule road, which is the only tarmacked main lifeline road in South Sudan connecting to Uganda from the South Sudanese national capital, Juba, has remained closed following advices from the government and international organizations that commercial and personal vehicles should not travel along the road as the area had become a dangerous zone until further notice.

Local government officials and residents told Sudan Tribune during a series of interviews on Wednesday that the confrontation which occurred less than 24 hours after the signing a peace deal which president Salva Kiir declined to sign to end the more than 20 months long conflict, had resulted in the loss of lives of innocent people and destruction of properties as well as disruption of daily life-supporting activities.

The Tuesday clashes between the rival forces on Juba-Nimile road forced civilians to flee the area in search of security and safety in neighbouring villages and border town of Nimule.

It remained unclear how many civilians have been forced out of their homes by the violence.

Spokesperson of the government forces, Colonel Philip Aguer, said in a statement on Wednesday that the situation has however returned to normal after the government sent more troops to repulse what he said was an attack by the rebels under the leadership of former vice president, Riek Machar.

Aguer however did not specify how many troops were sent to the area and whether they were joined by foreign forces in the country as the SPLA has been stretched by multiple fronts across the country.

Local residents told Sudan Tribune they have seen Ugandan troops moving in armoured vehicles along Juba –Nimule road on Wednesday before they were followed by another line of convoy of vehicles carrying SPLA government soldiers heading in the direction of Pageri town.

The security office of the United Nations in South Sudan has issued advisory note and circular advising its personnel to cease movement on Juba-Nimule road following an attack in Pageri on 18 Aug 2015.

The security forces of the host country (South Sudan), according to the circular, have also advised that there was still military operation in the vicinity of Pageri town, some 30 kilometres north of the Nimule border town with neighbouring Uganda.

UN Security advises that travels of personnel of the United Nations and International Non-Governmental Organizations on the Juba – Nimule road are currently restricted.

“UN Security will re-assess the situation in the next 24 hours and will advise accordingly,” the circular seen by the Sudan Tribune on Wednesday reads in part.

“In the interim all missions should be cleared with UN security until further notice. Additionally, UN/INGO missions into Pageri are to be suspended until a clearer picture is established as there are reports of heavy host country security forces deployed in Pageri,” it added.

Rebels confirmed that they captured the main town on Juba-Nimule road on Tuesday and held it for several hours before they decided to tactically withdraw. They accused the government forces of attacking their positions which resulted to the response by counter-attacking the town.

(ST)