Machar’s forces planning attack on Bor, says SPLA
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December 28, 2013 (JUBA) - South Sudan’s army (SPLA) spokesperson,
Philip Aguer, said on Saturday that rebel forces loyal to former
vice-president Riek Machar are planning an attack on Jonglei state
capital Bor.
JPEG - 34.7 kb
South Sudan army spokesperson Phillip Aguer (AP)
Mutineers from the army took control of Bor a few days after conflict
broke out between members of the presidential guard on 15 December in
the capital, Juba, with the army later retaking control of Bor on 24
December.
A spokesperson for the dissident forces on Saturday said their troops
briefly withdrew from Bor town for "tactical" reasons, admitting that
government forces were in control.
"It is only [a matter] time for our forces to reclaim the town to
prevent targeted lynching of individuals on suspensions of their
loyalties", partly reads a statement extended to Sudan Tribune.
The United Nations says that 120,000 people have been displaced and
over 1,000 people killed since the fighting spread from Juba to
Jonglei, as well as the oil-producing states of Unity and Upper Nile.
“We have information that forces loyal to Riek Machar are believed to
be preparing a fresh offensive on Bor. We don’t know the number, but
it is estimated 25,000 youths from the Lou Nuer [tribe] have been
mobilised to participate in the attack”, Aguer told reporters.
South Sudan’s information minister, Michael Makuei Lueth, accused
Machar of mobilising young men from his Nuer tribe to rise up against
the government.
“Riek Machar has decided to mobilise the youth in the name of his
tribe. This is unacceptable. He is putting in danger the lives of
these innocent youth”, Lueth said in an interview on government-owned
broadcasters on Saturday.
FIGHTING IN UNITY STATE
Aguer said government troops had clashed and repelled attacks by
forces loyal to Machar in Unity state, where the SPLA’s state division
commander defected a week ago.
The “SPLA is fighting back”, Aguer said, adding “it is the other side
that is attacking us”.
East African body, the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development
(IGAD) has said that negotiations will begin before the end of the
year, but there were no signs that a ceasefire agreement was being
observed on Saturday.
It is feared that the situation is likely to continue unabated unless
regional leaders expedite the process of negotiations.
Earlier, South Sudanese vice-president James Wani said his government
was ready to begin negotiations earlier than the initial period put
forward by regional leaders in a bid to end the violence.
“We are ready to meet even before that. It is now up to Machar to
accept the ceasefire”, said Igga.
(ST)
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