South Sudanese rebels accuse government of further attacks on their positions

August 25, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) – South Sudanese rebels have accused president Salva Kiir’s government of carrying out offensive on Tuesday, attacking their positions in Jonglei and Unity states despite efforts to end the 20-month long civil war through a political peace agreement.

“Government forces this morning, Tuesday, attacked our position at Goani area in Ayod county of Jonglei state,” rebel leader’s spokesman, James Gatdet Dak, said in a statement on Tuesday.

He said the opposition forces however repulsed the attacks, inflicting heavy casualties on government troops by killing 17 soldiers including a Colonel in the army.

He claimed that Juba has dispatched batches carrying troops and mounted with heavy weaponry to attack a number of rebels positions as government troops were on their way to Malakal in the oil-rich Upper Nile state.

“The regime has dispatched from Juba three batches with six small boats, attacking our defence positions on their way to Malakal in Upper Nile state,” he said.

In Leer county in Unity state, he said, government forces also attacked positions of the rebel forces in villages in an attempt to move to the River Nile as other forces move towards rebel controlled areas in Panyijiar county.

He accused the government of carrying out the offensive when at the same time it expresses readiness to sign the peace agreement on Wednesday.

The East African regional bloc, IGAD, has announced that South Sudanese president Salva Kiir has agreed to sign the final peace agreement on Wednesday in Juba to end the war.

(ST)