South Sudan denies rebels seize oil facilities in Unity state
June 6, 2015 (JUBA) – South Sudanese government has dismissed as “rubbish and unfounded propaganda” reports by the opposition forces led by former vice president, Riek Machar, announcing to have taken control of key oil facilities in the oil-rich Unity state following days of clashes that allegedly dislodged government forces from the strategic resource area.
But cabinet affairs minister, Martin Elia Lomuro, in reaction to the report said he was not aware of the development, adding that the defense minister, Kuol Manyang Juuk, also briefed them on the situation on Friday in which he told the council of ministers meeting that government forces were still in control of the area.
“I am not aware of this report. What happened is that the rebels of Riek Machar have been launching offensive on the position held by our gallant SPLA forces in the areas north of Bentiu but they were repulsed in the battle that took place in Panakuac and our forces contained the situation,” Lomuro told Sudan Tribune on Saturday.
“This was the report the council of ministers received from the briefing of the minister of defense, General Kuol Manyang,” he added.
He said it was therefore incorrect to say the rebels had taken control of the oil fields in Unity state, arguing that government forces were in control of the area.
Lieutenant General Bapiny Monytuil, a brother to pro-government Unity state governor, Joseph Monytuil, and powerful militia commander allied to president Salva Kiir’s government, said it was not true that their forces were defeated as reported by the rebels.
“That report is wrong. There is no such a thing. The grass around Unity oil field has never fallen and it never felt the presence of the rebels in the area let alone report of having taken control of the area,” he also told Sudan Tribune on Saturday.
The rebels, he claimed, attempted to move towards the Unity oil fields but they met stiff resistance from the pro-government forces at Panakuac area and were defeated, describing capture of the oilfields by the rebels as wishful thinking.
South Sudanese army spokesperson, Colonel Philip Aguer, also denied in a separate interview that the rebels took control of the area, describing the report as “incorrect and baseless propaganda.”
“These are baseless propaganda. The SPLA forces in Unity state are in firm control of the security situation. The Unity oil field is under maximum security protection and control of our forces,” he said.
The clashes, he said, took place as a result of the attack carried out by rebels outside the reported location.
“It was in Panakuac and they were repulsed. They never made any attempt to move forward after the defeat,” Aguer claimed.
Gordon Buay, a former militia spokesperson now one of the representatives to the government’s mission in the United States told Sudan Tribune separately that the reports were “false and misleading.”
“What the rebels have reported is not correct. They have not taken control of Unity oil fields. Our forces are in control of the situation. What they are saying is a lie,” he said.
Sudan Tribune could not independently verify the counter-claims by both sides in the armed conflict.
The rebels vowed to target the oilfields in the two oil-producing states of Unity and Upper Nile to deny the government access to oil revenues which it allegedly uses to finance the war.
(ST)