Local authorities in Manyo County in South Sudan’s Upper Nile state have denied claims that the SPLA-IO rebels captured Kaka area recently.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj from Kaka on Friday, Manyo County Commissioner Rajab Deng Ajak said the claims were untrue.

“I am now talking to you in the area and all the citizens are present,” he said.

He called on the rebels to tell citizens the truth following reports from Khartoum media that the rebels had controlled Kaka area in the county.

The top county official further said the rebels attacked an area called Abud at 6:00 am over the last four days, but were repulsed by government forces.

Rajab claimed the government destroyed two Toyota Land Cruisers and captured one tank.

The commissioner confirmed their readiness to repulse any attack on the area. He pointed out that the citizens who fled to western and eastern river bank following fighting have now returned to their areas of origin after the situation returned to normal.

Over 1000 homes in Kaka were destroyed last year as the area changed hands between the rebels and the government.

Photo: A member of SPLA Division Seven Cobra in Manyo County, Upper Nile State, 7 October 2013 (Radio Tamazuj)