SPLA-IO forces loyal to rebel leader Riek Machar claim that government forces attacked their defensive positions in Akobo East county of Bieh State on Monday.

SPLA-IO deputy director for media and public relations Manawa Peter Gatkuoth told Radio Tamazuj on Tuesday that they lost one officer and 11 were wounded in the attack.

“Since two days ago, the government forces sent a group to attack Akobo town. Some of the militias belonging to Taban came and attacked Akobo town but were repulsed yesterday. One of our soldiers was killed and 11 soldiers wounded, we do not know how many from the government side,” Peter said.

Peter urged the body tasked with monitoring the cessation of hostilities agreement, the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring Mechanism CTSAMM to document the violations to the agreement.

“Now we want to raise our concerns to the CTSAMM because for the last two weeks our areas in Unity, Equatoria and Jonglei have come under government attack,” he said.

In a statement extended to Radio Tamazuj, the rebels also claimed that government forces on Monday launched offensive attacks on their positions in Motot, Nyakhor, Pulchuol,Ruplieh and Motdit(Tharkuer ) and accused them of killing two civilians and committing atrocities in those areas.

However, Dickson Gatluak Jock, the spokesman for SPLA-IO loyal to First Vice President Taban Deng Gai denied the claims saying their forces are not in Akobo.

“That is not true. What we heard is that the conflict in Akobo is not about government and IO but it was clashes between the civilians among themselves and we have no hand in the clashes. We also don’t know why. We do not have any presence in Akobo, our forces are in Waat. If there is any clash it is Machar’s forces responsible,” he said.

Army spokesman Lul Ruai Koang also confirmed that there were clashes in Akobo but amongst civilians. He also said government forces are not in Akobo and were not involved in the clashes, he stressed that government forces are under instruction to uphold the cessation of hostilities agreement.