South Sudan’s warring parties trade fresh accusations
February 11, 2015 (BENTIU) – South Sudan army on Tuesday accused the armed opposition forces of attacking their positions in Unity and Upper Nile states, claims the latter has dismissed.
“The rebels shelled Bentiu for about two hours,” Manyang told the state-owned SSTV.
“There are no reports of casualties yet,” he added and that calm returned to Bentiu.
More shelling reportedly occurred in Upper Nile’s Malakal and Nassir areas as the army claimed they seized vehicles from rebels.
REBELS DENY ARMY CLAIMS
But Brig. Gen. Simon Maguek Gai, a rebel commander in Unity state said government troops violated the ceasefire deal by shelling their positions on Sunday and Tuesday.
Gai claimed the SPLA attacked their frontlines in Buoth, Wichok, Thowmangor, Thaon and Guit, and that rebels only fired back in self defense upon being provoked.
“We have been in our position in those areas and even Bentiu, where we share control, but to our surprise, government forces shelled our position for the last three days from now,” Gai told Sudan Tribune via satellite phone.
He claims government forces plan to defeat the rebels during dry season.
“You know it has been government’s dream to crush us during this dry season, that is why their position is not clear in the ongoing peace talks mediated by IGAD member countries,” said Gai.
According to the UN, there was shelling Tuesday morning in the area of Bentiu in Unity State, some two kilometres from their compound.
“The situation has calmed down there since the morning but remains tense,” a spokesperson for the world body said in a brief statement Sudan Tribune obtained.
“Shelling was also briefly reported this [Tuesday] morning in Nassir in Upper Nile State, close to the town’s airstrip,” it added.
The UN mission called on both parties to urgently and strictly adhere to the cessation of hostilities agreement signed on 23 January, 2014, further appealing to the country’s leaders to agree to an inclusive power-sharing deal for a transitional government needed to end the conflict.
(ST)