S. Sudan’s warring parties clash in Mayom county

January 31, 2015 (BENTIU) – Fresh clashes occurred Friday between South Sudan army forces (SPLA) and the armed opposition faction in Unity state’s Mayom county, a rebel official said.

Lt. Peter Riek Gew, a spokesperson for the rebels in Unity state, said the SPLA had launched deadly attacks on civilians south of Mayom, a claim Sudan Tribune could not verify.

According to Gew, the SPLA also attacked their base in the Wiechok and Buoth areas.

He said the attack was a violation of several agreements signed by both warring parties, including the ceasefire as well as the re-unification accord recently inked in Arusha, Tanzania.

“Our position is very clear, we never crossed an inch into government controlled areas, but forces of president Salva Kiir have continued to violate the agreements,” the rebel spokesperson said by phone.

According to Gew, the armed opposition forces responded to aggressions on their territory, but did not counter attack the SPLA.

Details on what transpired during the clashes could not easily be established.

The clashes came as president, Salva Kiir and his former deputy, Riek Machar engaged in face-to-face talks mediated by regional leaders at the sideline of the African Union summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Unity state capital Bentiu has changed hands several times between rebels and the SPLA. The United Nations accused both sides of killing hundreds in the region last year.

The conflict, now in its second year, has killed thousands of people and displaced nearly two million within and into neighboring nations.

(ST)