The Minister of Information in South Sudan’s proposed Lol state, Francis Bok has denied reports that speculated in the Sudanese media about clashes between the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) that is fighting Khartoum government and the SPLA-IO led by First Vice President Riek Machar.

Bok also denied any presence of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) in Western Bahr el Ghazal.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj by phone, Bok said what happened is that government forces encountered opposition troops on 15 May in the Deim al-Zubier area, which lies on the road between Raja and Wau.

“What has happened is that the opposition forces have encountered government forces in the area which led to some clashes,” said Bok.

He pointed that the deputy governor of Lol has intervened and allowed the opposition forces to cross to Wau County to join their forces that are stationed there and to facilitate the organization of their forces as per the security arrangements in the peace agreement.

“The deputy governor has intervened to contain the situation and allow the opposition forces to cross to where they are going,” he added. The minister described the reports by Sudanese media as false.

File photo: JEM forces in Darfur