The capital of South Sudan’s largest state Jonglei came under attack at dawn today causing a mass exodus of people as the government prepares for the possibility of another imminent assault.
Pan-pandiar army (SPLA) headquarters and Malual-chaat military camps around Bor may have been overrun.
A state government official attributed the clashes to defections within SPLA Division 8, saying fighting broke out about 2:30 a.m. in Pan-pandiar and Malual-chaat military camps and moved into Bor town by about 5 a.m..
The official at the rank of director-general said that he expects the defectors to make another attack on the town this evening. He estimated the number of defectors at “more than 2000” from different organized forces including SPLA, Wildlife, and Prisons.
He added that seven soldiers died in the fighting so far.
Civilians flee
Bor centre remains for now under the control of South Sudan’s military and police, but much of the civilian population has fled as fighting continues on the outskirts.
According to a teacher called Daniel who fled to the outskirts of Bor town, almost half of the town population have fled.
“People are fleeing outside Bor town because there is no protection,” said the teacher. “The civilians are being killed without protection.”
The teacher says that he saw 3 people killed in their homes, all civilians, including one shot in the chest, a second in the head and another cut at the throat.
Another local resident told Radio Tamazuj, “As we are speaking now there are some gunshots in some parts of thw town especially in the eastern part of the town.”
Many people have sought protection at the UNMISS base. No patrols from the UN were seen in the town, but only SPLA soldiers and police.
Others have hidden in their homes. A third civilian source reported that “people are now completely in their houses” amid ongoing gunfights and mortar fire.
Population armed
Bor’s civilian population is apparently rearming as the conflict escalates. Yesterday a government weapons depot at Kibek on the outskirts of town was emptied.
“All the weapons and munitions disappeared,” said a government source in the area. He explained that the weapons were likely now in the hands of Dinka Bor civilians.
Elsewhere, there have also been clashes in Akobo County but details are unconfirmed. Defections of Lou Nuer fighters from SPLA units in the eastern county of Pibor was reported yesterday.