South Sudan army dislodges rebels from strategic border town
Xinhua, February 11, 2017 Adjust font size:
South Sudanese army SPLA said Friday it had dislodged rebels from the northern strategic town of Kuek in Upper Nile region following the recent renewed fighting on the western bank of the River Nile.
SPLA spokesman Lul Ruai Koang told journalists in Juba that Kuek, which was being used by SPLA-In Opposition (SPLA-IO) to launch major attacks against them, was enshrined in the signed 2012 cooperation agreement as buffer zone between Sudan and South Sudan.
The SPLA-IO spokesman William Gatjiath recently claimed they had taken over Kuek from government troops.
On Feb. 8 and 9, the government troops clashed with Aguelek militia led by Johnson Olony who is allied to SPLA-IO in Malakal, South Sudan's second largest town.
"On the Feb.8-9, Aguelek rebels have been scaling up operations against SPLA forces. They have been using Wau-Shilluk to shell parts of Malakal. The sound of heavy gunfire artillery scared a lot of civilians and also the UN was concerned about repeated clashes that were spreading," Koang said.
He denied that the SPLA attacked the rebels, hence leading to the renewed clash.
"SPLA had to move out of the defensive positions to clear the threat. The clashes went on for about three days and yesterday, we were able to take control of Wau-Shilluk, Detang and law and order has been restored," he added.
He added that they have pushed the rebels north of the border with Sudan.
"And as we speak, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) are in Jalal and we SPLA are in full control of the border town (Kuek)," Koang said.
"The absence of the rebels will pave way for the verification teams to be sent to the area to verify whether the two armies are complying with the provisions," he said of Kuek.
He also disclosed that about 151 rebels defected from Akobo area that was hitherto a stronghold of the SPLA-IO.
"Greater Akobo had been the center of resistance for forces of Riek Machar. This is the first time for rebels from that area to abandon rebellion," he said. Enditem