A rebel officer has claimed responsibility for yesterday’s attack on government army positions in the western part of the nation’s capital Juba.
Col. Chan Garang Lual, a rebel official allied to the former first vice president Riek Machar, told Radio Tamazuj today that his forces had attacked government positions at Kubri Haboba and Lemon Ghaba areas at 10 pm.
Chan accused Kiir’s government of violating the signed cessation of hostilities agreement. “The government will not accept peace. Kiir’s forces attacked Lasu and areas in Upper Nile twice. The government has kidnaped our governor Marko in Kenya, so I am not the one who started to violate the ceasefire deal,” he said.
He claimed one soldier was wounded from their side. Chan claimed that 50 soldiers joined their rebel group during clashes in Juba on Thursday night.
For his part, the army's spokesman Lul Ruai Koang confirmed that their position came under heavy attacks by rebel forces in the western part of the capital yesterday night.
“Rebel forces led by Chan Garang attacked our position at around 10:00 pm near Kapuri, but they were repulsed. The attackers are being given a hot pursuit because they are going towards Wunduruba,” he said.
He pointed out that one SPLA soldier was shot in the back. Lul claimed that their forces killed more than seven rebel soldiers.
The military spokesman denied defection of government soldiers to the opposition during yesterday’s fighting.
Citizens in the western part of Juba said the sounds of light guns and heavy artilleries were heard and military presence was heavy yesterday night.