South Sudanese army and rebels contest control of Farajalla in Western Bahr el Ghazal state

June 29, 2015 (JUBA) – South Sudanese government on Monday said they repulsed attack by rebels on Farajalla town, about 36km from the state capital of Western Bahr el Ghazal, Wau, but opposition forces said they were in full control of the area after flushing out government troops.

The commissioner of Wau county, Elia Kamilio Dimo, said South Sudanese army, the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), had on Monday morning repulsed an attack attempted on their position in Wau county of Farajalla Payam by rebel forces allied to former vice president, Riek Machar.

“The forces of SPLA-in-Opposition attacked our forces this morning and they were repulsed in Farajalla,” Dimo told Sudan Tribune on Monday from Bagari Wau county headquarters.

“The SPLA forces are in full control of the area and that the situation on the ground is quite normal after the incident,” he said.

However the commissioner did not elucidate any casualty on both sides, he said the SPLA forces were still in forest pursuing the attackers.

He said at least two soldiers from the government side were confirmed killed in the rebels attack, adding that the retreating rebels were being pursued in the forests heading westwards.

However, in a press statement by a rebel leader’ deputy spokesman, Nyarji Jermlili Roman, he claimed that the opposition forces captured Farajalla payam on Monday were in full control of the area.

“The SPLM/A-IO forces stationed near Wau town under over all command of Maj.Gen.Thomas Bazylio Tandro and under direct command of Lt. Col.Vincent Joseph and Lt. Col.Giabi Aumbartu have launched a successful attack on military barrack of the enemy; the government soldiers in Farajalla area which is situated at the western side of Wau town, Western Bahr el Ghazal state that is just 36 miles [kms] away from Wau town and after Bagari where the raging conflict on the transfer of Wau county head quarters’ is going on there,” Roman said in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Monday.

“Our forces managed to defeat the enemy forces and taught them unforgettable lesson. The government tribal militias were badly scattered from the area and inflicted heavy losses on them both in human souls and equipments. On the side of our forces, three soldiers were slightly wounded,” he said.

He said three boxes of ammunition, 1 box of RPG, 9 pieces of klashnikov rifles and other items were captured in the clashes.

(ST)