Government and rebel forces clashed in the town of Pajut, of Duk county in Jonglei State last week with both forces claiming victory and large casualty counts for the oppositing side.

It is reportedly the most significant fighting in South Sudan since July's clashes in the capital of Juba, and comes at a contentious time in the country. Rebel leader Riek Machar is currently in Khartoum receiving medical treatment, and the transitional legislature is debating whether to accept a regional protection force that the government has stiffly resisted.

On August 19th, SPLM and SPLM-IO forces fought around the government’s barracks in the region, sources tell Radio Tamazuj. The government has claimed that at nearly 250 rebel soldiers were killed, but sources inside the opposition dispute the account and say the government suffered mass casualties.

Radio Tamazuj has been unable to independently verify which side attacked first or the casualty count. Both sides say that civilians were caught in the crossfire.

A source within the local government said that only the army remains in Pajut town, and further fighting could continue with reports of military movements in the region.