The Agwelek forces under command of South Sudan rebel general Johnson Olony have accused government forces of attacking them on the Nile’s west bank in Upper Nile state.
Agwelek spokesperson Nyagwal Ajak Deng said in a statement yesterday that helicopter gunships bombed their military positions twice Saturday around Kaka area.
He further alleged that government forces crossed the Nile from Malakal to Lelo area where the SPLA has a cantonment site.
Nyagwal said the government SPLA forces were preparing to attack south of Tonga in Panyikang county. He accusing the SPLA and allied forces from Sudan of gathering at Jamjam.
Meanwhile, Agwelek commander Hassan Otor said dozens of families were forced to flee into the bush because of air attacks.
For his part, SPLA spokesperson Col Philip Aguer denied knowledge of any air attacks in Upper Nile State. He instead accused the opposition of preparing to attack Malakal and Wadakona.
The Agwelek forces, which comprise of Shilluk (Collo) fighters, have joined the rebellion of Riek Machar and control the Nile’s west bank in Upper Nile. Government forces control the east bank. The two groups have repeatedly clashed this year including after Machar signed a peace deal with President Salva Kiir in August.