S. Sudan opposition claims recapture of Leer and Koch counties in retaliation to army offensives

October 2, 2015 (BENTIU) – A senior commander for South Sudanese armed opposition allied to former vice president, Riek Machar, said they have been forced to recapture Koch and Leer counties on Friday due to continues offensive by government and its allied militias’ south of Bentiu town, capital of the oil-rich Unity state.

In an inclusive interview with Sudan Tribune via satellite phone on Friday, the SPLM-IO overall commander for Unity state Major General Simon Maguek Gai, said their forces have responded in self-defence, accusing forces associated to President Salva Kiir for not holding ceasefire agreement.

“Yes, it was this morning our forces have repulsed heavy multiple assaults on our positions by pro-government [forces] in Koch and Leer counties. The government forces were on offensive for several times, despite peace agreement, but our forces were responding in self-defence against the aggressors,” he told Sudan Tribune on Friday.

He said most of the attacks took place in Maar, Tongedol and Lablab villages of Koch county at 6:00am on Friday morning, adding that the government had been coordinating multiple attacks on Leer, Koch and Nhialdiu payam of Rubkotna county, respectively.

“You know we have been tolerating series of attacks from government since and after the signed agreement in August, and as a result of their misbehaviour’s, it has forced us to hit back and recapture Leer and Koch counties,” he said.

Last Monday, opposition forces allied to first vice president designate, Machar, in accordance with the Addis-Ababa peace agreement, have accused government forces of violating the deal by raping and hunting civilians including livestock raiding in Geer and Kai-gai villages in Leer county.

The opposition commander further explained that their forces are committed to signed compromise peace agreement between them and the governments, but blamed insiders within the government for breaking the deal.

“Our capturing of both towns in Unity state does not mean that we violate the ceasefire but it’s the government forces [who] do not hold the agreement. So we could not wait when the very people attack us on our positions,” he added.

Both warring groups in South Sudan have been trading accusations on multiple violations of ceasefire agreement in Unity and Upper Nile states.

Last week the United Nation said South Sudanese warring groups were still continuing with hostility south of Unity state, adding the going fighting in some areas in the state is blocking aids delivery to thousands of people that took shelters in the bushes.

(ST)