Upper Nile State Minister of Information Peter Hoth says that army troops have been dispatched to recapture the state capital Malakal from defected general Johnson Olony and he expects more clashes.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Sunday from Melut, the minister said he did not have any recent information about the situation in the state capital Malakal, adding, “But what I know is the SPLA is heading to Malakal to chase out the rebels and Olony forces in the northern part of Malakal.”

“But I have not heard any information this morning if the fighting started because they left the day before yesterday.”

Asked whether there had been clashes in Akoka he explained, “It was Olony's forces who occupied Bilchiam, a town in Akoka, then the SPLA clashed with them and chased them away from there, from that particular area.”

“It was only on Friday [22 May] when they were repelled by the SPLA forces from Akoka... it was heavy fighting,” he said, claiming that some tanks were captured from the rebels in that area.