South Sudan says one soldier killed by SAF in Northern Bahr el Ghazal

April 17, 2012 (JUBA) – South Sudan on Tuesday accused the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) of launching an attack on its army positions in an area called Warguet which is part of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, resulting in the loss of life of one of its soldiers.

“The Sudanese army after finding difficulties in Panthou [Heglig] have resorted to opening more fronts as part of their tactics to draw attention of our troops. […] They did this on Sunday in Kuek but they were dealt with appropriately, pushed away into Sudanese territory and our SPLA [Sudan People’s Liberation Army] forces took the area”, SPLA spokesman, Phillip Aguer told journalists on Tuesday.

The SPLA soldier was killed while fetching water from near Warguet Bridge where the two armies are entrenched.

Aguer said SAF is trying to open more fronts specifically now in Warguet and Sirmalaka of Western Bahr el Ghazal state.

Troops from South Sudan last week seized Heglig, which supplies around half of Sudan’s oil production, prompting wide international condemnation and demands for withdrawal.

SAF on the other hand has reportedly started using its air force to bomb targets inside South Sudan killing several civilians.

(ST)