SPLA-IO rebels attacked SPLA-Juba positions in Ayod County of Jonglei State and Nasser in Upper Nile two days ago, according to SPLA-Juba spokesman Philip Aguer.
“On 2 March, the rebels attacked Ayod, but our army repulsed them, so the SPLA is now controlling Ayod,” he said.
Col. Aguer told Radio Tamazuj yesterday that intelligence reports confirmed that there are movements of SPLA-IO fighters toward Ayod and Nasser towns.
He further said newly trained rebel forces in Sudan’s Blue Nile and White Nile States are now moving to northern Upper Nile. However, he noted that overall the security situation is relatively calm across South Sudan.
Meanwhile, Gatluak Liphos, Upper Nile State Acting Minister of Information, said the SPLA-IO rebels stationed across the Sobat River have shelled the town of Nasser with mortars on Monday, but they were repulsed by the government forces.
“In Nasser town there were no clashes, but the rebels have been shelling the town. The town is controlled by the government, but the rebels were stationed on the eastern river side,” he said.
The state official confirmed his government’s commitment to respect the ceasefire agreement signed with the rebels in Addis Ababa.
Meanwhile today the Jonglei State Minister of Information, Jodi Jonglei, confirmed that there was shelling with mortars in Ayod County.
Jodi told Radio Tamazuj that Ayod citizens did not flee the town as the SPLA-Juba forces maintained their positions following the rebel attack.
He said the security situation is stable in all counties of Jonglei. The minister added the Ayod citizens have been complaining about lack of food in the area. He called on the humanitarian organizations and national government in Juba to provide humanitarian assistance to the conflict-affected people.
Separately, the state official claimed their readiness for this year’s agricultural season. “We always encouraging our citizens to be self-sufficient instead of depending on organizations. So we are currently working on the matter.”
File photo