10 dead, dozens injured in S. Sudan’s Unity state

August 20, 2016 (LEER) – At least 10 soldiers were killed and several others injured after South Sudan’s rival forces clashes in the southern part of Unity state, an official said.

The armed opposition spokesperson in Unity state, James Yoach Bideng, accused pro-government forces of launching offensives against their positions in Leer county.

Among those killed, he said, were seven government soldiers while three were from the armed opposition side.

“We repulsed the attack by government forces between Friday and Saturday in the northern part of Leer, but they suffered heavy casualties as they battled with our forces,” he said.

Over 450 herds of cattle, Bideng said, were stolen by government forces, allegations Sudan Tribune could not verify.

The official said opposition fighters recovered the stolen cows and returned them to the rightful owners on Saturday.

The southern part of oil-rich Unity state has experienced heavy fighting since last month when the armed opposition leader, Riek Machar’s bodyguards clashed with forces allied to President Salva Kiir in the capital Juba, leaving 270 dead.

Machar fled Juba in July after his house was destroyed by government forces and vowed never to return unless an intervention force was put in place to restore peace and stability.

(ST)