South Sudan rival forces claim separate victories in multiple fronts
June 7, 2015 (JUBA) – Armed South Sudanese rival forces have traded accusations attempting to depict the other to have carried out attacks on territories under their control in different parts of the country in violation of the cessation of hostilities agreement signed on 23 January 2013.
South Sudanese army (SPLA) spokesperson, Colonel Philip Aguer, said government troops on Saturday managed to stop advancing rebel forces matching towards the main oilfields in Paloch, Upper Nile state.
In a statement broadcast by the state owned South Sudan Television (SSTV) on Saturday, Aguer said armed opposition fighters allied to the former vice president Riek Machar, moved out of their controlled areas in Wedakona in an attempt to advance on oil installations in Paloch on Friday and Saturday but were repulsed.
He explained that a coalition of different units of government troops in the area managed to push them back to their territories and captured at least two tanks and other light weapons and a military truck carrying food items.
Aguer detailed that a huge combination of government forces composed of the SPLA’s 1st and 7th army divisions in addition to special oil protection forces plus Abushok, Mazulom, Tiger Division (presidential guards) and faction of Shilluk allied militia forces under the command of Oyuok Ogad stationed in northern parts of Shilluk kingdom in upper Nile state, jointly repulsed the rebels match towards the country’s only remaining operating Paloch oilfields.
The military officer also added similar attempts by the opposition forces were reported in Unity states on Friday within the vicinity of Unity oilfields in Panakuac area, north of the state capital, Bentiu.
Rebels claimed to have recaptured and taken full control of the Unity oilfields since Friday after a three-day fierce battle over the control of the resource area, but the government denied having lost the Unity oilfields.
All oilfields in Unity state have ceased to operate since last year as they have become a battle ground between the rival forces.
REBELS ADVANCE
Meanwhile, Abdallah Kuot, spokesperson of the opposition forces in Northern Bahr el Ghazal state under the overall command of General Dau Aturjong told Sudan Tribune on Sunday that their forces were advancing and had taken control of yet another area, Buoli, and warned civilians to stay away from near military installations in the state.
The state opposition spokesman said the action was in response to a provocation by the government troops in the area which attempted to launch an attack on their positions by trying to recapture Nyinbuoli, Achana and Majok in both Aweil West and Aweil North counties, respectively, in Northern Bahr el Ghazal state, home to the South Sudanese army’s chief of general staff, General Paul Malong Awan.
“Our forces have taken Buoli and repulsed several attacks which forces of Salva Kiir and his friends carried out on our positions today [Sunday]. Our forces captured [a] number of weapons and inflicted heavy losses on them, both materials and humans,” Kuot told Sudan Tribune on Sunday.
“We therefore want to alert the civil populations and the humanitarian organisations in the area to not go near any military installations or use their properties. We don’t want them to become victims of the situation during confrontations,” he warned.
GAIN IN WESTERN BHAR EL GHAZAL
Kuot also said the rebel forces had remained in full control of the areas they recently captured near the neighbouring Western Bahr el Ghazal state’s capital, Wau, adding that their forces were further advancing.
He further claimed that they defeated several attempts by the government troops since Thursday in an attempt to expand their control to areas taken from them by the opposition fighters, including a number of Payams and villages in Bazia area, 50km from the state capital.
“They (government troops) have been making attempts since Thursday to regain control of the areas our forces have taken from them but they have never succeeded. The last attempt was on Saturday morning,” he said.
“We also asked civilians in Western Bahr el Ghazal to not use military vehicles and avoid coming close to military barracks or wherever they stay. We don’t want civilians to become victims of cross fire,” he further cautioned.
The rebel spokesman in the region said their forces were not targeting civilians, explaining that their rules of engagements were clear and strictly directed at military installations and properties.
(ST)