Heavy fighting resumes in Juba between rival South Sudanese forces

July 10, 2016 (JUBA) – Heavy fighting has resumed in the South Sudanese capital, Juba, between rival forces that concluded a peace agreement in August last year.

The clashes occurred this morning at around 8:00am at Jebel site, the base of the opposition faction of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA-IO), which is also the residence of the first vice president, Riek Machar.

Officials and eye witnesses told Sudan Tribune that a force loyal to President Salva Kiir attacked the opposition’s General Headquarters where their chief of general staff, General Simon Gatwech Dual, is based.

“Our forces have come under heavy attack this morning. President Salva Kiir’s forces launched the attack,” said James Gatdet Dak, press secretary for the First Vice President, Machar.

Jebel site is about 5 kilometers away from the Presidential Palace, or J1, in Juba city center.

Dak said the attacking forces had been repulsed and chased back into the capital center, near the national security service building.

However, he warned that the situation may further escalate if such attacks continued, accusing forces loyal to President Salva Kiir of either not able to control their forces or were intentionally provoking a return to a full scale war.

The opposition leader’s spokesman however said the SPLA-IO and the entire leadership of the SPLM-IO are for peace and the implementation of the peace agreement, and not interested in return to war.

The South Sudanese army spokesperson was not reachable for comment.

Gunfire could also be heard close to the military barrack south of the presidential palace, less than two walking minutes from the country’s main university of Juba, forcing residents to flee for their lives.

Tanks and heavy artillery from the presidential palace drove through Buluk, the headquarters of police and Hai Thoura residential area towards the Jebel site where heavy exchange of gunfire were being heard.

(ST)