Jonglei: Twic East concerned over rebel advance on Duk county’s Poktap and Payuel
March 26, 14 (JUBA) – The situation remained in Twic East county despite reports that South Sudanese rebels are advancing on Duk county’s Poktap and Payuel villages of Duk county, officials from the Twic East county headquarters of Panyagoor said on Wednesday.
The commissioner of Twic East county, Dau Akoi, told Sudan Tribune that there was calm in his county but added that “panic may build up in Twic East should rebels advance to Poktap and Duk Payuel”.
“The security situation is now calm. NGOs are operating normally, daily businesses are going on, we hope that the army is going to control the situation in Duk”, Akoi said.
Both the army and rebels have violated the ceasefire deal they signed on 23 January, five weeks after the conflict was triggered by clashes between rival elements of the army in the capital Juba.
The United Nations estimate that 708,900 have been displaced by the conflict, while the International Crisis Group estimated some weeks ago the 10,000 people had been killed.
Commissioner Akoi said the civilians who remained in the villages in Duk county had finally fled to Twic East counties.
Soldiers from the South Sudanese army (SPLA) were seen leaving Panyagoor town on Wednesday heading towards Duk county to face rebel advance.
In a televised statement on South Sudan Television (SSTV) on Wednesday, a member of parliament representing Duk county in South Sudan assembly said the rebels were destroying the villages and killing civilians.
“Fourteen people were injured and 29 others are missing; we still count them dead,” said Philip Thon on SSTV.
On the same programme, the SPLA’s spokesman, Philip Aguer, accused the rebels of “consistent attacks” in Duk and other areas since February.
He added that the SPLA unit that was overrun by the rebels in Duk county was small.
(ST)
Photo: People fleeing to the bush from #Bor twon when #SouthSudan rebels attacked the #Jonglei capital in Dec. 2013. pic.twitter.com/iGLoCdxyBI
— Sudan Tribune (@SudanTribune_EN) March 26, 2014