South Sudan army claims seizing control of several rebel areas in Unity state

June 9, 2015 (JUBA) – South Sudanese army (SPLA) claimed on Tuesday that it repulsed an attack allegedly carried out by armed opposition fighters allied to the former vice president, Riek Machar, and took control of several areas previously held by the rival forces in Unity state.

Lieutenant General Bapiny Monytuil, a government allied militia commander whose forces fight alongside government troops against opposition fighters told Sudan Tribune on Tuesday his troops on the ground under the command of Major General Mathews Puljang, in collaboration with the SPLA’s 4th division forces in the area, managed to push away advancing rebel forces on Unity oilfields and took control of more areas under their control.

“Our forces have today [Tuesday] taken control of Panakuac. They also took five other areas from them and they are now still pursuing them towards Sudanese border after the defeat,” said Monytuil.

He claimed that the defeat of the rebels from Panakuac and capturing of some of their areas has lessened fear of danger they posed to oil installations which they (opposition forces) had declared to be their targets in attempt to deny the government any opportunity to reopening the affected facilities.

“With this defeat of the rebels by our forces, their dream to advance on our positions and take control of the oil installations has now been foiled and it will only remain unrealistic and wishful thinking,” Monytuil told Sudan Tribune during an exclusive interview on Tuesday.

South Sudanese army spokesperson, Colonel Phillip Aguer, said in a separate interview that the government forces in the areas were in complete control of the security situation in the state.

Sudan Tribune was unable to independently verify claims that Panakuac, which has been one of the stronghold areas of the opposition forces, with battles often raging for control of military and security facilities such as the oil installation, has fallen to the control of government forces.

Observers say such development would frustrate opposition fighters who have recently made significant advances north of Bentiu town, capital of the state, and in other places south of the town, raising prospect that the rebels would regain control of strategic areas in the state.

Deputy Unity state governor, Stephen Mabek Lang, also confirmed that rebels have on Tuesday clashed with troops north of the state capital, including Panakuac.

Lang said the army sent new reinforcements there to join in an offensive aimed at dislodging rebels from the area, located just a 12kms from the strategic town north of the capital.

Gordon Buay, former spokesperson of the former militia groups also told Sudan Tribune on Tuesday that government troops in Unity state have made significant victories in the area.

Rebels spokesman was not available for comment in reaction to the allegations.

The towns and areas around Bentiu have seen relentless fighting in the past weeks, as rebels try to push through the government’s heavy defences in the capital.

The regime has responded with withering counterattacks including barrages by artillery and war-planes. There were no reports on casualties in Tuesday’s fighting.

(ST)