South Sudan army denies capture of Magwi county headquarters in Eastern Equatoria

August 27, 2015 (JUBA) – South Sudanese army (SPLA) has issued a statement dismissing reports alleging that armed forces allied to the former vice president, Riek Machar, now designated first vice president, have attacked and took control of Magwi county headquarters in Eastern Equatoria state.

The South Sudan Armed Opposition, officially known in the peace agreement they signed with the government, on Wednesday said their forces took control of Magwi town after repulsing an attack by government forces on their base 25 km from the town.

But the spokesperson of the government forces, Colonel Phillip Aguer, told the state-owned South Sudan Television (SSTV) on Wednesday that claims by the opposition to have captured the administrative headquarters of Magwi county were a “mere propaganda manufactured to cause panic and mislead the population in the area.”

Eastern Equatoria state minister of information, Mark Arkio, denied in a separate statement that Magwi town had fell under the control of the opposition forces.

“I have no idea of the source of those reports. Magwi town and surrounding areas is relatively calm. We have not received any report indicating that it has come under attack from armed group,” Arkio said on Thursday.

“The area is peaceful and people there are going about their normal business. Children are going to school and grown [up] people are engaged in their normal life-supporting activities. Shops are opened. Those in the farms are working normally. The security situation is quite normal. It is okay,” he said.

Magwi county commissioner, Ben Kingston, also described the reports as mere fabrication.

However, residents in the area who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal told Sudan Tribune that fighting took place in the town on Wednesday during which armed group suspected to be rebels briefly entered Magwi town early at dawn before they could withdraw in the morning.

(ST)