Fighting between rebel forces and government troops continued today in South Sudan’s Manyo County in Upper Nile State, following rebel shelling of Renk town and a government offensive into the county launched over the weekend.
Clashes were reported in Kwaik, Khor Neem and Hamra, though Radio Tamazuj was unable to reach informed military sources for more details about these battles, which took place on the west bank of the Nile in the area opposite Renk city.
SPLA-IO have been ocassionally shelling Renk since nearly a year ago. Military sources accused them of using Wadakona, across the Nile, as a place from which to shell the city.
Yesterday the South Sudanese Defense Minister Kuol Manyang denied knowledge of the capture of Wadakona by government forces, though other military sources confirmed to Radio Tamazuj the development.
In an interview with Radio Tamazuj, the defense minister claimed he had no information about the offensive that resulted in capture of the village. He further claimed to have heard reports of a split in the rebel ranks prompted by the collapse of the peace talks.
For his part, the rebel ‘governor’ of the area, Tijwok Agwet, confirmed that their forces had withdrawn from Wadakona after government attacks on Saturday. He denied the claims of the defense minsiter that there were any divisions in their ranks.
Photo: A house burned in Renk after rebel shelling