Unity State’s governor and several ministers returned to Bentiu on Monday to reestablish civil authority in the state capital just days after a battle for control of the city.
Bentiu had been under the control of defected soldiers since 20 December, when the commander of SPLA Division 4 James Koang declared himself military governor of a new ‘interim government’ loyal to the ousted vice president Riek Machar.
In retaking the city last Friday at midday, SPLA fought for more than two hours in Rubkona around the bridge especially, according to the official account, after days of costly fighting to the west in Mayom and along the route to Bentiu.
The assault on Bentiu involved primarily units that had been based before the conflict in states to the west. The attacking force was under the overall command of Lt-Gen. Jok Riak, Sector 1 Commander, together with operational commander Maj.-Gen. Magok Magok, Maj.-Gen. Mathew Puljang, and Brig-Gen. Deng Mayiik.
Many markets and houses were looted before the withdrawal of opposition forces last Thurday as order broke down within the mutineers’ ranks and ammunition stores were set on fire.
Lul Ruai Koang, military spokesman for the rebels from Addis Ababa, downplayed the loss of the city calling it “a tactical withdrawal to avoid civilian casualties,” and adding that oil fields were still under their control.
‘1000 houses burnt’
Since the state government’s return yesterday it has visited parts of Bentiu and its twin city Rubkona and found extensive destruction to houses, institutions and markets, according to Minister of Information Unity State Nyaliep John Dak.
“The situation is very bad, but we are hoping in the coming days that it will improve,” Dak told Radio Tamazuj in Bentiu.
“Something like 1000 houses were burned. Because in Rubkona they burned everything,” she added, noting that some ministers’ houses were also burned.
Most of the population have not returned to Bentiu; many are still sheltering in UN bases while others fled to Guit County or farther outlying areas.
Governor Joseph Monytuil’s return yesterday represents the first official visit by the state government since the recovery of the city. He arrived at 2:00 together with his entourage, ministers, advisors and civil servants, according to Dak.
One of their first acts was to go to Radio Bentiu to appeal over the radio for the population to return to the city. Military authorities on Friday had already asked government journalists hiding inside an UN base to come out to reopen the radio.
SPLA has called for defected soldiers to return to their units. In a statement on Friday, the office of the Chief of General Staff General James Hoth Mai called on “SPLA and security members of Unity State that are in hiding to report themselves as soon as possible to their units.”
“Whether they left Bentiu or Juba or any towns due to the deception and false propaganda by Riek Machar group they should now be able to identify the truth from the lie and should report back to their unit,” the army declared.
Bentiu’s hospital remains closed as well as government offices, but the governor has instructed his ministers to start their work again on Wednesday. Dak said that there had been some looting at the ministries buildings but they had not been burnt down.
Photo: A man with his belongings in Bentiu, 12 January 2014 (AP Photo/Mackenzie Knowles-Coursin)