Heavy Fighting Reported In Unity State Heavy fighting has erupted between the forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and the supporters of the former Vice President Riek Machar at the military barracks in Rubkona County and other parts of the oil-rich Unity state. 21 December 2013
*BENTIU, 21 December 2013 (Gurtong) - *It is reported that forces loyal to the former vice president are now under the control of the Fourth Infantry Division with the Caretaker Governor of Unity State Dr. Joseph Manytuil Wejang having moved out of the State capital to Mayom County. An eyewitness who was at the site said the Caretaker governor and his group were moving from the State Capital Bentiu to Mayom Via Nhialdiu when unknown armed group attacked them on the way where the Chief Whip at the State Legislative Assembly Hon. Martin Mashod Deng was killed but did not confirm whether there are other causalities. The fourth division commander Maj. Gen. James Koang Chuol has urged the civil population to remain calm and to resume their normal duties. “The State Government officials under his careful supervision should remain in their respective positions and that the Directors General should start going to their offices as the situation return back to normal,” he said. An eyewitness who preferred to remain anonymous said that a group loyal to the President of the Republic of South Sudan already planned to move out and start fighting has been cleared and now the State capital is under the control of the Fourth Division. He added that many people including civilians have lost their lives in the cross fire but could not give numbers as the fighting is not only among the armies but civilians are also attacking their neighbours. For the last two days the fourth division commander has transported more than 700 civilians mostly from the greater Bar El Ghazal region back to their states. Fighting also erupted in Pariang County. The Caretaker Governor upon his arrival from Juba confirmed that his leadership is standing firm with the President of the Republic of South Sudan and teh South Sudan people, urging the citizens to remain calm. Posted in: Home<http://www.gurtong.net/ECM/Editorial/tabid/124/ctl/CategoryView/mid/519/categoryId/1/Home.aspx>, Governance<http://www.gurtong.net/ECM/Editorial/tabid/124/ctl/CategoryView/mid/519/categoryId/6/Governance.aspx> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "South Sudan Info - The Kob" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/SouthSudanKob/CAJb14oreQM1_qG4y%2BrvVnUy9JM26h6DSJ1RzuE5DcfddH9rRCg%40mail.gmail.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
