S. Sudan’s rival parties trade accusations over ceasefire violations
November 10, 2014 (JUBA) – South Sudanese rival forces on Monday traded fresh accusation with each side accusing the other of launching fresh military attacks in Upper Nile state, despite agreeing to start implementing a security pact reached in January.
“This morning at 5:45am, 10th of November 2014, forces of Riek Machar launched attack on SPLA position in Dukduk. The attack begun at 4am with artillery shelling and at 5:45am, the base (Dukduk) was attacked by a force of two battalions and the SPLA defeated the attackers,” army spokesperson, Phillip Aguer said on Monday.
He said the attackers withdrew to a border military base for Sudan Armed Forces in Sinai state.
“The SPLA lost five heroes; killed in action and twenty-one wounded. On the side of the rebels, twenty-four dead bodies were counted on the ground and the SPLA was able to capture two [rebel fighters] alive,” Aguer told reporters in Juba.
One RPG7, a PKM, a sniper ripple, 14 AKM47 ripples were some of the weapons government troops allegedly captured from the rebel forces during the clashes.
“We expect other attacks as they did last time and SPLA is monitoring another preparation near Maban, which we doubt may take place but that is a potential area the rebel maybe attacking in time to come,” further said Aguer.
Peter Hoth Tuach, Upper Nile’s information minister separately confirmed the attack and equally blamed the opposition forces of provoking pro-government forces.
“Their intention is to find a place they can occupy in the area so that it could become their base when the ceasefire comes into effect, but they were repulsed by our gallant SPLA forces,” Tuach told Sudan Tribune on Monday.
Lul Ruai Koang, the spokesman for rebel forces, however, blamed government troops for the renewed clashes.
“The government is entirely responsible for these unnecessary attacks motivated by its desires and attempts to recapture oil fields under our control before a permanent cessation [of hostilities] agreement could be signed,” Koang said in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Monday.
He claimed Dukduk and Gerbenna north and northeast of Renk county in northern Upper Nile, Phome El Zaref, the administrative headquarters of Fangak county in northern Jonglei state and Pareng county in Unity state were all attacked on Monday.
President Salva Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar re-committed themselves to ceasefire on Friday last week. The reports of renewed clashes threatens hopes raised by regional body mediating the peace talks for the eleven months conflict to reach agreement on formation of transitional government of national unity within 15 days.
The new deal, according to a communique from the East African regional bloc (IGAD) commits the parties to specific measures including withdrawing from flash-point areas, reporting troop positions, and allowing truce-monitoring and aid agencies to freely operate.
The seven IGAD nations agreed to send additional troops into South Sudan to protect civilians if agreements are violated again, the authority said yesterday after giving the parties 15 days to finalize a power-sharing accord. Asset freezes, travel bans and an arms embargo could be imposed by the region, partly notes the communique.
Currently, more than 10,000 United Nations peace-keepers, including an IGAD contingent deployed earlier this year, are in South Sudan to protect civilians
(ST)