SPLA-IO troops allied to South Sudan’s former first vice president, Riek Machar, admitted that at least five soldiers were killed and nearly 36 others wounded from thier side during clashes with government forces in various areas on the west bank of the River Nile in Upper Nile on Thursday.
Col. William Gatjiath Deng, Military Spokesman of the SPLA-IO, told Radio Tamazuj on Friday that they repulsed separate attacks launched by government forces on their positions in various areas, including Warjuok, Owach and Wau Shilluk.
Gatjiath admitted that at least five SPLA-IO soldiers were killed and about 36 others wounded from their side during the clashes, claiming they also killed several government soldiers.
Gatjiath accused the Sudanese rebels of fighting alongside the SPLA forces in Upper Nile.
For his part, Santo Domic, the Deputy Military Spokesman of the SPLA army, denied claims that they attacked rebel forces in Upper Nile, claiming the security situation was clam there.
Instead, he accused the SPLA-IO rebels of using civilians as human shields in Wau Shilluk area. Santo also denied allegations that they the Sudanese rebels were involved in fighting.
The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) on Wednesday deplored fighting on the west bank of the River Nile, saying it has reached “worrying proportions.”
File photo: SPLA soldiers in Upper Nile (Radio Tamazuj)