A mediation committee is reportedly trying to reconcile the SPLA units that clashed in Malakal town, the capital of South Sudan’s Upper Nile State last week.

"There is a committee working on dialogue between Olony and the SPLA. So that’s the new development today,” Acting Upper Nile State Minister of Information told Radio Tamazuj.

Last week, an incident within Malakal developed into more serious clashes involving bodyguards of Governor Simon Kun Puoc and allied militia against forces under the command of SPLA Major General Johnson Olony.

Minister Gatluak Liphoth further said some SPLA forces are stationed on their side in the town, while Olony’s forces are still on the other side. However, he confirmed that the security situation is calm, saying the warring SPLA units had stopped the fight.

"The security situation is stable, and there is not any exchange of fire. The SPLA and those people are maintaining their positions," he explained.

The state official pointed out that government officials and local residents haven’t yet come back to the town in fear of insecurity. Gatluak, who is also the government spokesman, has again accused Olony’s forces of torching government institutions.

Olony previously denied claims that his forces burned down the governor’s office and other government institutions.

“These claims are untrue because the governor’s office and other institutions had been burned by the rebels. So how can we burn them again?” he asked.

File photo