S. Sudanese rebels “shoot” SPLA commander in Unity state
April 28, 2015 (BENTIU) – South Sudanese rebels claimed they shot a senior pro-government army commander as fighting intensified in the oil-rich Unity state on Monday.
“Yes our forces shot a Brigadier General and another Colonel when they led an offensive against our positions on Monday”, he told Sudan Tribune via satellite phone.
“Brig. Gen. Ruai Tap was shot on both legs with a rocket propeller gun and Colonel Kawai Chany who acts as Guit county commissioner in government was shot on the neck while leading an operation in Kuergueynia, a suburb east of Bentiu,” added Puok.
However, Sudan Tribune could not independently verify the opposition’s claims and South Sudanese army officials had not yet released any information on the clashes.
UN MISSION CONFIRMS FIGHTING
The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) confirmed the heavy fighting between the two rivals forces reached the capital of the oil-rich Unity state on Monday.
The deputy spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, Farhan Haq, said the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) confirmed fighting in and around Bentiu.
Hag said Bentiu experienced hours of shelling and exchange of fire between the rival forces, accusing government troops of restricting movement of UN personnel in the area.
“Government troops prevented a mission patrol from reaching Bentiu this morning and UNMISS flights to the Unity State capital have been suspended,” he said in statement.
Several ceasefires have been agreed by either side when the East African regional bloc (IGAD), broke the first talks in January last year, but none has been observed.
The European Union envoy to South Sudan recently renewed calls to the country’s leaders to respect the terms and conditions of peace talks to end the ongoing conflict.
The last round talks seeking an end to the South Sudanese conflict collapsed in March in Addis Ababa, IGAD chose to resume the mediation under a new mechanism.
Tens of thousands of people have died and millions displaced since violence broke out in the country in December 2013 after political tensions within the ruling party (SPLM).
(ST)