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Bentiu, January 9, 2014 (SSNA) — A combined force loyal to president Kiir has on Thursday recaptured Mayom County of the oil-rich Unity State.
Rebel forces loyal to former Vice President Dr. Riek Machar seized the county late last month.
The government soldiers were combination of Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) and South Sudan Liberation Army (SSLA). The commanding General of SSLA soldiers is Major General Mathew Pul Jang, a son of Mayom County.
New development after the incident
After the government’s forces recaptured Mayom, they celebrated and danced. However, the soldiers mostly from Kiir’s home state, began destroying important County’s infrastructures (some of which are considered sacred by the county’s residents), gathered thousands of cows, and marched toward their home State, Warrap.
Subsequently, the SSLA commanding General Maj. Gen. Mathew Pul Jang was informed about the issue and that his uncle’s cows are among those taken.
Maj. Gen. Pul Jang was furious and began to sing war songs; from there, he confronts the government soldiers—the soldiers he recently helped liberated his hometown from the rebel forces.
The name of Pul Jang’s uncle is Gatdeng, a revered elder within the Bul Nuer Community.
As the episode unfolds, civilians uprising began and started their assault on Juba-backed soldiers.
Meanwhile, General Makal Kuol who is loyal to Machar came in with his force and took back the county, inflicting heavy losses on the government troops.
At least 10,000 cows are reported to have been taken by soldiers loyal to Kiir, according to Mayom’s residents.
It is also reported that Maj. Gen. Mathew Pul Jang is weighing his next moves after Mayom’s residents turned against him.
Mayon County has been the main sit of the SSLA since it declared “The Mayom Declaration” on the 11th of April 2011.
SSLA is a former rebel group. The faction signed a peace deal with Juba in 2013 after South Sudanese president Salva Kiir granted amnesty to all rebel groups operating against his government.