Addis Ababa, October 10, 2014 (SSNA) — Heavy fighting broke out between South Sudan’s government soldiers and forces loyal to the former South Sudanese Vice president Dr. Riek Machar.
Heavy artillery shelling and machine gun fire were heard in and around Doleib Hill and Obele early Friday.
Rebels said their forces have captured Doleib and that they have inflicted heavy losses on government troops.
Meanwhile, the official spokesperson of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army, Philip Aguer dismissed rebels’ claim, saying that SPLA still controls large part of the Doleip.
Doleib Hill and Obel zones are located south of Malakal, the capital of the oil-rich Upper Nile State.
It is unclear which side started the fighting. However, both sides have already accused each other of breaking the truce.
Rebel sources told the South Sudan News Agency (SSNA) that government soldiers have been bombing their positions since early October, stressing that they have not started the recent fighting. Government sources also rejected rebels’ claims and stated that rebels have been bombarding their sites for days.