Southern Liech security advisor killed in rebel attack
October 15, 2016 (LEER) – A senior official from Southern Liech, one of South Sudan’s new states, was killed in an ambush laid by members of the armed opposition forces (SPLM-IO) in Pieliny, an area situated about 10km from Leer town.
The official was reportedly killed alongside other senior and junior officers.
The attack, Puok told Sudan Tribune, was in retaliation for several provocations allegedly by pro-government forces on their positions.
He, however, claimed the SPLM-IO had gained more territories around Leer county, ever since fighting started on 13 October between the two rival forces in the country.
According to Puok, the rebels inflicted heavy losses on government soldiers, capturing various firearms, including Israeli-made weapons.
“[The] SPLA-IO captured 14 different advanced weapons [2015 Israeli made guns] in good conditions” he said, although Sudan Tribune could not verify these claims.
South Sudan’s peace accord, signed in 2015, is considered fragile and could derail the little progress so far made in recent months. The deal ended months of civil war.
The young nation descended into war in mid-December 2013 after President Salva Kiir accused his former deputy Riek Machar of a coup attempt. Tens of thousands of people have been killed and millions displaced in South Sudan’s worst ever violence since it broke away from Sudan in 2011.
(ST)