Clashes that broke out since yesterday evening within government forces and allied militias have continued as of midday today, Wednesday, with ethnic Dinka militias now reported to have joined the fight.

Initial reports suggested the fighting began last night with an incident between Governor Simon Kun's bodyguards and troops loyal to SPLA Major-General Johnson Olony. More serious fighting erupted in the early morning, with some sources saying the governor's headquarters was attacked.

Militia of the Dinka Baliet, Akoka and Padang have since joined in support of the gubernatorial guards.

Gatluak Liphos, Minister of Information of Upper Nile State told Radio Tamazuj at about noon that the militia know as 'Abu Shouk' and 'Mazlum' have joined in the fight. Speaking by phone from Malakal, gunfire was audible in the background.

The minister said all the circumstances of the clashes were “not really clear” and that he expected to have more information later, but he noted the involvement of Dinka militias, saying Shilluk forces from the west bank were shelling these groups.

“Abu Shouk are a group of forces that belong to [Dinka] Padang and the people of Khor Fulus,” he explained.

The minister also confirmed the involvement of Major-General Johnson Olony's forces in the clashes. He related an incident last night that might have sparked the fighting.

He claimed that Olony's forces last night closed the road between between the market and the hospital as the governor's forces tried to bring one of their soldiers who was ill to the hospital.

“From there they [Olony's troops] said you go back – so they got back in their vehicle and wanted to leave but right away they opened fire and killed three and wounded two and they took our vehicle.”

Meanwhile, a witness in Malakal told Radio Tamazuj that fighting is continuing and said that some civilians have been killed and wounded in Hai Al Saha and Hai Salam and Hai Jellaba, which are neighborhoods of Malakal. The wounded were rushed to the Malakal Teaching Hospital, he said.

More civilians have run to the UN base on the outskirts of town for protection.