South Sudan's government and rebel forces have traded accusations of fresh attacks on various areas in Upper Nile State.

SPLA-IO Military Spokesman William Gatjiath Deng told Radio Tamazuj yesterday that their positions at Owach area came under assault by government troops on Wednesday but they were repulsed.

Gatjiath disputed reports that the government forces are controlling Kuek area in northern Upper Nile, saying their forces are now stationed in Kuek area.

“Government forces came from Lelo and Warjuok and they tried to attack us in Owach, but our forces were able to repulse them,” said Gatjiath.

For his part, Santo Domic, deputy spokesman of the SPLA army, denied any clashes between their forces and SPLA-IO fighters in Owach on Wednesday.

Instead, he accused the SPLA-IO rebels of attacking their positions to instigate fighting in the country. “We as SPLA, we are following the instruction of the President on the national dialogue. We were told not to launch any attack, that’s why we are just staying in our bases, but we have the right for fight back,” said Domic.

File photo: SPLA soldiers in Upper Nile/Radio Tamazuj