The military command of the main rebel group loyal to the exiled former First Vice President Riek Machar has distanced itself from the latest fighting that erupted on Thursday night less than 20 kilometres outside Juba. 

In a statement extended to Radio Tamazuj on Saturday, rebel deputy spokesman Lam Paul Gabriel backtracked on a statement made by their field commander Lt. Col. Chan Garang who initially claimed responsibly for attacks on government outposts in western parts of Juba on Thursday night.

Government army also blamed the fighting in Juba on Lt. Col. Chan Garang.

Col. Chan Garang Lual, a strong ally of the exiled former military chief Paul Malong, defected to the opposition led by Riek Machar last year in protest against Malong’s house arrest in Juba.

Lam said the government was just trying to justify its own violation of the signed ceasefire deal in Addis Ababa last month, claiming the fight was caused by disgruntled soldiers who defected in the capital Juba.

“That fight was among the regime’s forces, and those who defected have not yet declared their intention, so linking them to the SPLA -IO immediately is fallacious and an act of cowardice from the regime,”  he said.

“Lt Col. Chan Garang Lual is not a separate entity from the SPLA-IO. He is within the command structure of the SPLA-IO. Lt Col. Chan never left his base since he joined SPLA- IO last year,” he added

 Citizens in western parts of Juba said the sounds of light guns and heavy artilleries were heard on Thursday night.