Jonglei's Duk county calls for government protection from rebels
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March 22, 2014 (JUBA) - Officials from Duk county in South Sudan's
Jonglei state have called on the South Sudan army (SPLA) to step up
protection amid renewed threats of an "imminent attack" on the civil
population.
Duk county lawmaker Philip Thon Leek said there are reports that rebel
forces are mobilising in neighbouring Ayod county to launch a fresh
attack on Duk and swampy areas were women and children took refuge in
February after violence broke out in the region.
"This is a desperate situation," Leek told Sudan Tribune on Saturday.
"We fear that [at] anytime they will attack and we appeal for quick
action [from the national army to protect civilians]."
Leek claims that the rebel forces are converging in Akuac Deng, a
payam (district) in Ayod county neighbouring Duk to the north.
Sudan Tribune was not able to independently verify the claims due to
the remoteness of the area, which is not easily contactable by mobile
phone.
Leek alleged that rebel commander Khor Chol, who formerly headed army
forces in Pajut in Duk county before defecting, is now leading
preparations for a fresh attack.
Duk county officials said rebels forces had been driven out by local
youths earlier this month after they occupied and destroyed areas in
and around the main towns.
The Duk Lost Boys clinic, the sole health facility in Duk county and
the neighbouring Uror and Twic East counties, was also ransacked.
Funded by US and European donors, the clinic provided a wide range of
health services and was particularly known for its eye surgery.
A rebel spokesperson has dismissed claims its forces are preparing to
launch a fresh attack, saying the allegations were an attempt by the
government to cover up its plans to expand offensives in areas of Ayod
county.
"The information we have gathered from the leadership on the ground is
[the] opposite. It is instead the government and its foreign allies in
Bor county which have been preparing to launch an offensive into the
areas of Ayod county," said James Gatdet Dak, the spokesperson for
rebel leader Riek Machar.
Dak added that rebel forces have the right to self defence and were
prepared to repulse attackers should they attempt to move in to
rebel-controlled areas.
SPLA spokesman Col. Philip Aguer did not respond to calls by Sudan Tribune.
Duk county authorities alleged that anti-government forces began
attacking villages on 24 February, forcing some 68,000 people to leave
their homes.
The attacks reportedly occurred after rebel forces were repulsed by
government forces from Gadiang, a military base in Jonglei.
(ST)
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