S. Sudanese rebels repulse government attempts to retake Bentiu: spokesperson
October 30, 2014 (ADDIS ABABA) – South Sudan’s rebel SPLM in Opposition faction led by former vice-president Riek Machar says it had repulsed a counter-attack by government troops loyal to president Salva Kiir as they attempted to retake Unity state capital Bentiu, which rebel forces claimed to have captured on Wednesday.
He said that fighting occurred in a place called Maan-Kuai, north of Rubkotna town.
“Kiir’s tribal militias this afternoon launched unsuccessful counter attacks on our positions at Maan-Kuai north of Rupkoni (Rubkona) but were repulsed,” he wrote.
Government troops allegedly lost Bentiu and Rubkotni to the rebel forces in a fierce fighting which rebels claimed had killed 290 Juba soldiers including a senior officer.
“Meanwhile, confirmed reports from our field commander indicated that 290 government soldiers were killed in and round Bentiu town including one Brigadier General,” Koang said.
He added that among the war equipment captured by the rebels included one T-72 (tank) along with two Urol trucks each mounted with ZU 23 and 27 heavy machines and commander’s official car containing documents and laptops.
“Over 500 different weaponry were also captured,” he said.
Koang blamed the government for starting “a war they could not win”.
He said the movement was committed to the cessation of hostilities agreement and other agreements signed but reserved the right to fight in self-defense when attacked.
South Sudan government has not yet confirmed the fall of both Bentiu and Rubkotni.
Government troops of division 4 maintained control of Bentiu for the last four months and amassed thousands of additional troops from various divisions 4 and 5 from Greater Bahr el Ghazal region in order to defend the oil-rich state capital.
Observers say the fall of these strategic towns to the rebels, if confirmed, will be a big blow to government.
US CONDEMNS REBEL ATTACKS
The United States has condemned in the “strongest” terms the latest attacks by the SPLM in Opposition in and around the strategic oil-rich town.
“Despite the parties’ recent acceptance of collective responsibility for the crisis, these current attacks demonstrate that the SPLM/A-IO has yet to abandon violence to achieve its goals,” said Jen Psaki, the spokesperson for the US state department.
“We call on both sides – both of whom have committed violations of the agreement that have delayed peace – to ensure their forces refrain from further actions that violate the January 23 Cessation of Hostilities Agreement and undermine the peace process in South Sudan,” adds the statement.
The US government also warned the two warring parties against using these latest attacks as an excuse not to engage in the peace process or not to work in good faith to negotiate a sustainable political transition for sustainable peace and national unity.
Tens of thousands of people have been killed and over a million displaced since the violence broke out in mid-December last year amidst warning of looming famine early next year.
(ST)