Juba claims capture of areas around Bentiu

A senior official in South Sudan’s Unity State loyal to President Salva Kiir said the offensive they launched earlier this week resulted in the recapture of Nhialdiu County and other areas of Mayom County that were controlled by the armed opposition forces allied to Riek Machar.

A senior official in South Sudan’s Unity State loyal to President Salva Kiir said the offensive they launched earlier this week resulted in the recapture of Nhialdiu County and other areas of Mayom County that were controlled by the armed opposition forces allied to Riek Machar.

William Bajuoc Bakuet, Unity State Security Advisor, told Radio Tamazuj that the SPLA forces had recaptured those areas on Monday and Tuesday.

“Mayom is now under full control of the government, so there is not any rebellion in the area. The rebels fled toward Jagei areas after they were defeated in fighting over the last two days,” he explained.

He pointed out that the rebel forces fled toward Heglig area along the border with Sudan.

Previously, Khan Nien Yieh, Director General at the Unity State Ministry of Information affirmed that they defeated the rebels in Guit and Nhialdiu Counties. “Our wounded soldiers during those clashes are now receiving treatment in Bentiu Military Hospital,” he said.

SPLA-IO military spokesman Peter Jouj Machar recently accused the government forces of attacking their positions in the state. He told Radio Tamazuj that they were attacked in Nhialdiu and Guit counties. The fighting continued from Sunday until Monday, according to the rebel official.