South Sudanese army abandon positions after rebel clashes
January 23, 2015 (JUBA) – South Sudanese army forces reportedly abandoned their defence positions following sustained clashes with the armed opposition groups in Unity state on Friday.
Multiple military sources and local officials in Unity state told Sudan Tribune that government forces abandoned their positions and pulled out after they experienced sustained attacks from rebel fighters using heavy artilleries in Darkuach area.
A high ranking military officer in the SPLA’s 4th division said fighting continued around the ruins of the oil processing hub and admitted that government forces were no longer in control of the area, but are still stationed within the vicinity of the oil facility.
It was not immediately clear which side initiated the attack and neither the spokesperson of the government troops nor the opposition forces reacted to Friday’s clashes.
“The rebels have been on offensive for the whole of this week, leading to the burning of the oil facilities which kept on burning for more than two days, which is a serious damage not just to the facilities but also wells,” Unity state’s deputy governor, Stephen Miabek Lang, told Sudan Tribune on Friday.
“They (rebels) wanted to destroy [oil facilities] so that, according to their own thinking, they would have deprived the government of resources, but they also don’t know they have caused damage to public resources and this is an economic crime,” he added.
Lang disclosed Intense fighting continued in Darkuach until Friday evening.
“There was a fighting until yesterday evening. Sound of heavy exchange of fire could still be heard and people could see the smoke billowing into the sky, which is a sign of more destruction and burning of some facilities,” said the deputy governor.
He said the armed opposition’s activities were similar to terrorist acts.
“People who believe they have a genuine cause cannot do what these people are doing,” Lang said.
On Thursday, the army’s chief of staff, Gen. Paul Malong Awan, called for an urgent operational meeting to allow the command to plan a response to the rebel military offensive and “aggression”, his office said on Friday.
“We must deal with this situation now that it is clear they do not want to respect the ceasefire. If they do not want to stop hostilities and continue with these offensives, we must be ready to act,” Awan reportedly told the command meeting in the capital, Juba.
According the army chief, the upsurge in fighting after almost a month-long lull was prompted by a new surge of foreign forces and governments extending a helping hand by providing weapons to rebel fighters.
“In these recent attacks, we are told by command on the ground that foreign forces were sighted pulling weapons mounted on trucks and they were monitored up to where they came,” said Awan.
Although Awan did not name any specific country alleged supporting the rebels, he claimed opposition forces have acquired tanks, heavy artillery and armed personnel.
(ST)