South Sudanese army retakes Malakal from rebels: spokesperson
May 25, 2015 (JUBA) – South Sudanese army (SPLA) has announced that its forces on Monday regained control of Malakal town, capital of the oil-rich Upper Nile state, more than one week after falling under the control of armed opposition fighters led by former vice-president, Riek Machar.
“The SPLA forces today [Monday] successfully entered Malakal without losses. They are now in complete control of security situation in Malakal,” Aguer announced on Monday.
The military officer explained that the initial threat posed by the armed opposition allies to the oilfields “has been eliminated and the oil workers should now return to the area to resume production.”
He said government forces entered Malakal on Monday without a fight as rebel fighters were already allegedly neutralized on their attempt to go to Paloch.
“There was nobody to defend Malakal. The actual fighting took place on 23rd of this month when the rebels attempted to go to Paloch through Akoka but they met SPLA forces advancing towards Malakal and they were defeated,” he said.
“So they (armed opposition) became frustrated and the rest who remained behind in Malakal decided to abandon their position. And yesterday they started to leave the town because they knew our forces were coming. So today our forces entered Malakal at 8:30am,” Aguer further explained.
Several local residents and officials as well as members of internally displaced persons in Malakal town however told Sudan Tribune on Monday that they were not sure which of the forces was in control of the situation.
The SPLM-In-Opposition spokesperson was not reachable for comment.
The rebels jointly with Shilluk ethnic militia group led by Major General Johnson Olony captured Malakal on 16 May from government forces.
(ST)