S. Sudan army says it recaptured town from Yau Yau rebels
May 19, 2013 (BOR) – The South Sudanese army (SPLA) says it has retaken control of an area previously held by rebels in the remote Boma town in Jonglei state.
“The SPLA has restored law and order in Boma town. The SPLA entered Boma this morning and we have now taken control over it”, said Aguer by phone.
He said four army soldiers were killed and another 12 wounded in the ensuing battle to reclaim the rebel-held territory.
He added that 20 rebel fighters had also been killed in the clash.
“We captured lots of weapons and the army is now in the process of identifying them to find out their sources and the countries of manufacture,” he revealed.
A number of food items and alcohol allegedly imported from neighbouring Eritrea were also reportedly recovered from the rebels.
However, it remains unclear as to how the rebels obtained the goods, raising questions about a possible link between South Sudanese armed groups and elements from the neighbouring country.
A rebel group fighting in Jonglei, the country’s most populous state, claimed on Tuesday to have laid siege on Pibor town, highlighting the level of their activities in the area in recent days.
Meanwhile, the rebel’s official spokesperson, Colonel Peter Konyi Kubrin, issued an evacuation warning to civilian populations in the state capital Bor, claiming they are sending forces to attack the city.
(ST)