Pagak/Juba, January 22, 2016 (SSNA) — South Sudanese rebel military command has accused Juba of launching new military assaults on its positions located in and around Western and Central Equatoria States.
The armed opposition says at least 7 heavily equipped Toyota land cruisers of the government attacked its outpost in Wundurba payam of the Central Equatoria State, adding that the assault happened on Friday morning at about 11:00am, South Sudan local time.
Rebels say the attack is unacceptable and that it violates the peace agreement.
“Around 11:00 AM this morning, 7 Toyota land cruisers heavily armed from South Sudan capital Juba attacked our assembly site in Wundurba area. This is unacceptable for SPLA-Juba faction to continue violating the signed peace accord between the two parties in August 2015,” SPLA-IO’s military command says in a statement obtained by the South Sudan News Agency (SSNA).
The SPLA-IO added that its soldiers were forced to engage government’s troops to stop what it described as “intolerable advancement” toward rebel-held areas.
The SSNA understands that heavy fighting between the rival forces occurred in Katigiri Payam of Central Equatoria state and is ongoing.
Rebel stated that one of its sites in Mundiri of Western Equatoria State occupied by the SPLA-IO was also attacked by government forces on Thursday.
According to the armed opposition, Major General John Kenyi, the SPLA-IO field commander in the area says number of those killed in the fighting could not be released at the moment because the fight is continuing.
The armed opposition says it condemns government assaults on its positions and Juba’s deliberate displacement of civilians in Western Equatoria State.
The rebel military command calls on JMEC, IGAD-Plus, and the international community to put pressure on South Sudan’s government to stop the war and work towards the implementation of the power-sharing deal.
An attempt by the South Sudan News Agency to get government’s reaction on the situation went unanswered.