Clashes injure 20 soldiers in Jonglei, Duk commissioner

April 22, 14 (BOR) – More than 20 South Sudanese soldiers were injured and an unknown number killed in the Patuenoi area of Duk, the county’s commissioner, Elijah Monchnom Wuor, said on Monday.

The fighting broke out at between 5am and 6am when rebels attacked the South Sudanese army’s positions in Duk Payuel, Patuenoi and Mareng, the Duk county commissioner said.

“Our soldiers defeated the rebels in the first, second and third rounds, before they withdrew at Patuenoi. The same happened in Mareng, which is the headquarters of Duk County. We were expecting to see the commanders who were commanding these forces, but they had not reached us here in Panyagoor”, commissioner Mocnhom said.

The 22 soldiers received treatment in Panyagoor and some but would be referred to Juba and Bor on Tuesday, he said.

The injured soldiers, who the commissioner spoke to, said the rebels had retreated from Patuenoi.

“They burned all houses in the villages in Patuenoi, Payuel and Mareng. The few government structures that existed in the county headquarters were destroyed, soldiers told me”, Mocnhom continued.

The clash took place around 200 kilometers from Bor, the state capital.

Duk Padiet, in the far north of Duk County bordering Ayod County, one of the rebels centers of operations, to the north, is still under the control of SPLA, according to the commissioner.

The fear is that the rebels might cut them off if Poktap falls under their control, as it is the only route out of Padiet to Twic East and to Bor.

Patuenoi village in Ageer payam [district] of Duk county, is just around 10 kilometers from Poktak, which borders Twic East county to the south.

Should the rebels take Poktap, Twic East would be affected as many residents in Twic East predicted on Monday on phones.

“We are in problem, if they reach Poktap, then we will definitely run to Bor, no other ways”, said one of the staff who worked for Catholic Relief Service [CRS] in Twic County on Monday.

The spokesperson of the government troops, Colonel Philip Aguer confirmed heavy fighting on Tuesday was also reported in eastern state of Jonglei but said the rebels were repulsed. Scores of rebel fighters were killed, he claimed.

“The fighting in Jonglei was heavy but the rebels were also repulsed”, Aguer said.

(ST)