Local authorities in Maban County in South Sudan’s Upper Nile State affirmed that the security situation is calm and stable in the county.
When asked about media reports of defections to the rebels in his area, the Maban County Commissioner James Pasha denied any forces in the county defected: “It is a fabricated story and nothing happened as such in Maban.”
In his remarks to Radio Tamazuj on Tuesday, Pasha stated a limited quarrel between two soldiers took place at the market in Maban on Friday.
He noted the misunderstanding was between his bodyguard and an officer from the fire brigade unit. Both of them were drunk and exchanged fire at the market, according to the official.
“Shortly afterwards, the problem was about to turn into a tribal dispute between Beni Showa and Dangagaji,” he explained. “As local authorities we are striving to contain the matter,” he emphasized.
Rumours of rebellion in Maban area are totally fabricated, emphasized the commissioner, arguing that if the local people wanted to rebel they would have defected since the start of the fighting last December.
File photo