The Mayom county commissioner in South Sudan’s Unity state accused Riek Machar’s rebels of breaching the cessation of hostilities agreement by carrying out attacks in the area.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj Friday, county commissioner John Bol said SPLA-Juba forces stationed at Wangkei, Rier, Buk Nyang, and Wichok repulsed several rebel attacks between 11 and 16 July.

Bol said that at Wangkei the government suffered 10 casualties and killed 128 rebels.  Radio Tamazuj could not independently verify these figures.

Bol reiterated his government’s commitment to respecting the cessation of hostilities and denied claims that government forces attacked the rebels in Mayom.

“It is untrue. I assure you that it is the rebels who attack our positions,” he said.  “You know, forces of Riek Machar do not want peace, therefore they attack us frequently at Wichok, Turkei, Thuor Thuor, and Rier areas, besides other areas I did mention before.”

The commissioner said government forces inflicted heavy losses on the rebels led by General Peter Gadet Yaak at Bwau area and that opposition attackers are now coming from Koch County because they’ve been pushed out of Mayom.

He said the security situation is now calm in Mayom County.

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