South Sudanese and Ugandan armies on Saturday forced the withdrawal of opposition forces from the capital of Jonglei State, Bor, which has been totally depopulated and razed to the ground.

Bor has now changed hands four times between SPLA forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and others led by the defected commander Peter Gadet, who is also allied with civilian militia from northern parts of Jonglei.

The population of the town as well as its outlying villages has fled to Lakes State, across the Nile, or south along the Bor-Juba road. Others sought shelter at the UN base in Bor itself.

Immediately after the recapture of Bor the government announced it accepted the cessation of hostilities proposed by international mediators at negotiations in Addis Ababa.

Opposition military spokesman Lul Ruai Koang acknowledged the loss of the town but downplayed the significance of the development, calling it a ‘tactical withdrawal’ on the part of their forces.

“The SPLM/SPLA forces under the direct command of Maj-Gen. Peter Gadet Yak as of 17 January 2014 made tactical withdrawal from… Bor for purposes of reorganization and preparation for other missions,” he said.

Koang added, “Not even a single shot was fired in Bor, our forces withdrew and the government forces just walked in. It actually took them more than 12 hours to enter into Bor because they thought we were still around.”

‘Gallant SPLA forces enter Bor’

Col. Philip Aguer, spokesman of the South Sudanese army, declared Saturday, "Today the gallant SPLA forces entered Bor, they have defeated more than 15,000 forces of Riek Machar and frustrated his plans to attack Juba."

He did not say whether there were any casualties. Ugandan army spokesman Paddy Ankunda claimed there was “a lot of resistance but our force was overwhelming,” according to a report by Reuters news agency.

Likewise, the spokesman of President Kiir released a statement congratulating the army for “a job well done.” At the same time he asked them to observe international norms on such matters as treatment of prisoners of war.

‘No strategic purpose’

On the other hand, opposition spokesman Lul Ruai Koang scoffed at the significance of capturing Bor: “It looks like the government is making it a big issue but it is not a big issue. We have 11 counties in Jonglei State, we are in control of 9 counties.”

“So if we are in control of nine counties, why should we waste our time on just one small county without even a population? There is no population in Bor. The entire popuation fled across river Nile,” he said.

“So basically there is no strategic purpose to hold Bor at all costs. It is the government that is really losing a lot to regain Bor, but to us it is not significant.”

Photo: A shot of Bor town during a trip for media organized by the South Sudanese army one day after the recapture of the town, 19 January 2013 (VRT/Rudi Vranckx)