South Sudanese rebels loyal to Riek Machar accused the government army of attacking one of their bases near Pagak as the peace talks are ongoing in the Ethiopian capital today.

Leader of the SPLM-IO youth league Puot Kang told Radio Tamazuj this afternoon that government troops started shelling their positions at Way Station near the town of Pagak on Sunday.

“We were informed this morning that the government army has been shelling, they were shelling our position and again this afternoon we received another report that the government forces have launched an attack on our position at Wey station which is our base,” he said.

He pointed out that they have informed the ceasefire monitoring body, also known as CTSAMM, about the reported attack.

SPLA army spokesman Lul Ruai Koang was unavailable for comment.

But government-appointed minister of information in Maiwut State, Baruach Uluch Akolaton denied any clashes near the town of Pagak. Instead, the government official accused the rebels of shelling the area’s airstrip.

“What happened this afternoon that there was a government plane carrying food from Juba to Pagak, and because the rebels did not want the plane to land, they started shelling the airstrip but the plane landed quickly and took off afterward,” he explained.

The state government spokesman said no one was hurt as a result of shelling by the rebels.

The warring parties are still trading accusations over hostilities despites recommitment in Addis Ababa to silence the guns.