Defected army soldiers and allied militia launched attacks since Monday near the capital of Upper Nile State, Malakal, targeting army bases.
In an interview with Radio Tamazuj on Wednesday, the Upper Nile State Information Minister Philip Jiben said the outskirts of Malakal witnessed fierce battles between the government and rebels.
Opposition fighters attacked the SPLA base in Owachi on Tuesday, and they also reportedly attacked another garrison in Pakang area last Sunday. Owachi, the SPLA 7th Division headquarters, is located on the west bank of the Nile southwest of Malakal.
Jiben claimed the opposition fighters were repulsed, but a Puoc administration official told Sudan Tribune that Owachi was overrun. The same official also said the opposition fighters mobilized for the fight had come from both eastern Upper Nile and Jonglei.
The local population in the Owachi area fled to Lelo County for safety, said Jiben, adding that the rebels were also trying to take Doleib Hill area, on the east bank.
The attacks in Panyikang and Makal counties, on both sides of the river, suggest that Malakal town is partly surrounded.
Jiben accused the opposition forces of breaching the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement signed on 23 January in Addis Ababa. Earlier this week the opposition announced they would boycott the second round of talks originally scheduled to open Monday, saying the government had failed to honour a ceasefire.
Photo: Fighters loyal to opposition leader Riek Machar in Jonglei, South Sudan (Goran Tomasevic/Reuters)