Government and Sudan rebels attack rebel position in Wau

Addis Ababa, Jun 30, 2018 (SSNA) — South Sudan’s government and Sudanese rebels have launched a surprised attack on a rebel position in Mboro town located in Wau, rebel deputy military spokesman Col. Lam Paul Gabriel says.

In a statement seen by the South Sudan News Agency (SSNA), Lam states that government troops with help from Sudan’s rebel group, the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), launched a surprised attack a few hours after the recently signed Khartoum ceasefire pact take effect.

“This morning at about 7:00AM, the regime’s forces in coordination with JEM militias launched a heavy joint attack against the SPLA IO position in Mboro, Wau,” Col. Lam says.

The rebel spokesman explained that the attackers came from Aweil and Wau.

“The aggressors came from Wau and Aweil on 14 Land cruisers, 3 Woral trucks and 4 APCs. This happened just hours after the ceasefire takes effect. The fight is still ongoing as I write,” he explained.

Lam also says government forces have left their base in leer on June 29 and attack SPLA-IO troops in Rubkuay, adding, “their plan [is to] proceed to Koch County where they want to control koch border through Thaker Payam. This is a provocative aggression aimed at derailing the peace process.”

The SPLA-IO calls on Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring Mechanism (CTSAMM) and the United nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) to investigate what it described as “acts of violence.”