South Sudan opposition claims further attacks by government forces in Unity state
October 7, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) – South Sudanese armed opposition faction of SPLA-IO, led by former vice president, Riek Machar, has accused president Salva Kiir’s government of allegedly carrying out further offensive on their bases in the oil-rich Unity state.
Colonel Deng also said while fighting was going on in Ngop area, government forces also launched other attacks at 2pm on their bases at Gezirra, Buoitong Boma, west of Rupkotni, but were also repulsed.
He accused the government of deliberate violation of the peace agreement it signed with the opposition leader, Riek Machar, in August to end the 21-month long civil war which erupted on 15 December 2013.
Deng called on IGAD plus, AU and the wider international community to establish the monitoring and verification body so as to report on the violations.
Meanwhile spokesman for the United Nations Secretary General said his office in New York had received reports of fighting around Malakal, the Upper Nile state’s capital, but was not sure who initiated the clashes.
“On South Sudan, the UN Mission in the country, UNMISS, reports hearing mortar shells yesterday morning in Malakal in Upper Nile State, coming from the direction of the west bank of river Nile.
The Mission says it is not in a position to confirm who was shelling,” said Dujarric, UN secretary general’s spokesman.
“Also in Malakal, the Mission reports the arrival of some 260 new internally displaced persons at its protection of civilians site in one day, coming from the west bank of the Nile, fleeing violence as well as food insecurity,” he added.
There are currently more than 45,000 residents sheltering in the Protection of Civilians site in Malakal with some 185,000 people in sites across the country.
(ST)