An armed group attacked the Rumaker area of Northern Bahr el Ghazal on Wednesday evening and clashed with SPLA soldiers, according to multiple sources.

Aweil East Minister of Information William Ater told Radio Tamazuj there was injuries among SPLA soldiers but did not mention any deaths.

He claimed that the attackers were militias who crossed from Sudan and attacked Rumaker area but were repulsed by SPLA. The attack took place in the north of the former Aweil East County.

Meanwhile, a source at Aweil East police station speaking to Radio Tamazuj yesterday also confirmed the attack, saying an armed group was behind the incident but did not give further details about the casualties.

Separately, Sudanese local media reported that an armed group called themselves “Save the National Flag” had attacked an area in Northern Bahr el Ghazal and claimed they captured it. The group is rejecting the peace agreement signed by the government and SPLM-IO in August last year.

Radio Tamazuj was unable to reach the SPLA spokesperson for a comment.

In the aftermath of the attack, the Commissioner of Baac County in Aweil East State is calling on residents in Rumaker to remain calm.

Commissioner Deng Dut Aliel told a local radio station that armed men had clashed with SPLA soldiers in the area before the attackers were repulsed.

Deng said the attackers injured an SPLA soldier and looted a businessman’s truck full with goods. He added a wounded soldier is under treatment at Rumaker hospital.