Pagak/Juba, July 27, 2017 (SSNA) — A heavy fighting between South Sudan’s warring factions has erupted in Upper Nile’s historic city, Maiwut, forcing civilians to flee their homes, both rebel and government military officials have told the South Sudan News Agency Thursday.
The disclosure comes as both factions claim control of Maiwut.
Government forces said they have captured Maiwut and that they are heading towards the rebel headquarters, Pagak.
A senior military officer who prefers anonymity at Bilpham headquarters in Juba said the national army (SPLA) is now in full control of Maiwut.
“The rebels of Riek Machar are dislodged from Maiwut. Maiwut is now under our full control,” the officer told the South Sudan News Agency in Juba.
However, SPLA-IO 5th Division Commander Maj. General Khor Chuol Giet downplays government’s claim, saying some Juba-backed soldiers were instructed to go to Maiwut through bushes and declared its capture, adding, “We were in the middle of fighting with government forces around Wichluakjak when they suddenly surprised civilians in the city. We are fully aware of the situation. Our unit in Maiwut is engaging them.”
Maj. Gen. Khor asserted that capturing Maiwut will never bring peace. He added that the armed opposition is prepared to wage what he described as “an all-out war” in Upper Nile and warned of “second Somalia in East Africa.”
The South Sudan News Agency has also learned through a confidential source that the First Vice President Taban Deng Gai is not happy about the recent news about the revitalization of the August 2015 peace agreement.
Gai wants the government to control both Maiwut and Pagak so that he can tell the international community that he is now in full control of the SPLM/A-IO, according to the source.
A senior rebel official calls Gai’s plan “desperate.”
“This is a desperate move by Taban. His dream to become the leader of the SPLM/A-IO will not happen,” Simon Keah Yiey said.
“Taban should know that Bentiu has been under government control for at least a year and yet no peace has been achieved,” he explained.
Attempts by the South Sudan News Agency to reach the office of the SPLA-IO Spokesman Brig. Gen. William Gatjiath Deng went unanswered.
17 Comments. Leave new
This war is useless war to the people of South Sudan. Taban and Slava Kiir don’t really understand the meaning of being a leader, they both useless minded and they asking for all goldickging around the world can assistance with the military, like Uganda, east africa Nation for got the Ethiopia and Eritrean civil war, who end it. Only Omar albashir from north sudan understand the meaning of this civil war.
Yeah mr nor!
This message plize! You are right for plize! You try to art this of my 2 your commented they son of devil con’t can’t rules he’s him nor she will not because the Salva kiir coshpint this is has father name coshpint plize! And Thanks you! By the so
100% you right
The grasshoppers have been locked in a bottle and they are now biting and eating each other, while those who put them in the bottle are now laughing and enjoying watching how they are killing each other. The same tactics used by Khartoum.
U got point .
may God help our country south Sudan.
Sorry
Confrontation may not help economic recovery in south Sudan.
The situation was been created by taban.and kiir will never help.them believ me u can.not enjoy u people death to be their leader.at the very they will hat u to death.and kill u back
I think we are fare away from any solution for this war, only people who are paying the price of this current war are the civilian. The war must stop and let bring all civilians back home.
All we needed is you God!!
Our country is beautiful with unique people, but our leaders lost completely. Redirect them.
What supposed to done is that stopped fighting each other weather the parties or civilian let us respect the of south Sudan and his innocent people so simple of development should appear in whole of country this war would never developed any corner of these nation for you and us as the civilian.
Oh! God touch the heart of south sudanese fighters either in gov’t or IO side to come together, think and understand this abusing words “dog fight in J1” let’s them asked themselves why are we killing each other? What will i benefit from killing my friend/brother? Why are we continue fighting with emty stomach/pocket?
Obena our problem is killing civilians more especially by the so call government army who are suppose to provide security. Now this service is provided by IO but the government is jealousy that is why they keep on attacking IO position bringing suffering to people. They would have copy the behavior of IO.
Peace come after war (fighting)
They fight them self and they will regret later.
People’s movement (SPLM-IO) save our people from this terrorist attacks I beg you this time to clear the area and get to know that peace grantors have taken silence of our suffering population now do what can save our people. Stop only repulsing them and relax pursue them.
kirr and his mathiangnyor are celebrating the innocent blood of nuer but we wil never give strangle continues