South Sudanese troops loyal to Salva Kiir captured Upper Nile State’s capital on Monday after earlier clashes with opposition troops north of the capital, according to the army spokesman.
Col. Philip Aguer, the official spokesman of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), said at a press conference that they inflicted heavy losses on the rebels and seized military equipments.
Aguer said the SPLA army completed its operation in Malakal on Monday morning. He claimed that they laid what he termed as “deadly ambush” on the rebels in an area between Baliet and Akoka. He added the Zalan and Abu Shok forces seized five tanks from the rebels.
The army spokesman revealed that Olony’s forces withdrew from Malakal before the SPLA forces entered the town, saying the withdrawal made it easy for the government troops to enter the town without any serious fighting.
He claimed that they were fully controlling Malakal town. He disclosed the SPLA received orders from the top leadership to pursue the rebels. But the opposition did not issue any formal statement with regard to the capture of Malakal by the government.