South Sudanese rebels gain ‘full control’ of Unity state oilfields

Juba/Addis Ababa, June 5, 2015 (SSNA) — South Sudan’s rebel forces on Friday captured oilfields after three days of fierce battle with government troops in Unity State.

Rebel Spokesman James Gatdet Dak released a statement, saying the armed opposition, SPLA-IO, took full control of all oilfields in Unity State and threatened to target Adar and Paloch oilfield in the oil-rich Upper Nile State.

“On Friday morning our forces from Division 4 took full control of the whole Unity oilfields in the oil-producing Lich (Unity) state. Our next targets are Adar and Paloch oilfields in Upper Nile state. We will make sure the only two remaining oilfields cease to function as well,” Gatdet said in a strongly worded statement.

“The plan is to close down oil production in both Unity and Upper Nile states which are the only two oil producing states in South Sudan,” Gatdet revealed.

Gatdet slams Kiir’s government for using oil money to buy arms instead of helping vulnerable South Sudanese.

“This is to deny Salva Kiir’s regime from using the oil revenues to finance and perpetuate the war. He buys weapons and hires mercenaries to continue fighting the war in defence of tyranny while the suffering people of South Sudan have been dying of hunger, diseases and lack other basic services,” he said.

Gatdet also accuses government forces of launching what he described as “full scale offensive” against the SPLA-IO and added that the armed opposition has delivered a humiliating defeat to government troops.

The rebel Spokesman further stated that the SPLA-IO is well prepared and ready to strike and capture the remaining oilfields in Upper Nile State and “shut down their operations” with ultimate goal to deny Juba from using oil as a war indemnity.

Last month, South Sudan’s rebels warned that it has finished its military preparation and that it will attack Paloch oilfields at anytime to capture them from government troops.

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