South Sudanese rebels fighting for former vice president Riek Machar have launched an attack from southern Unity State into northern Lakes State, according to two government officials.
The sources described the attackers as rebels, not cattle raiders, and pointed to the involvement of army troops in the clashes.
Army spokesman Philip Aguer said rebel fighters “came from the southern part of Unity State and are trying to transport the fighting into Lakes state by trying to attack Maper.”
State Information Minister Dhieu Wol said at least 10 civilians were reported killed and 24 wounded in Rumbek North County due to the clashes between SPLA forces and the rebels.
Dhieu told Radio Tamazuj the rebels coming from Unity State launched an attack on the SPLA military barracks located 3 km from Maper. Asked about who fought the rebels, SPLA or armed youths, the minister said the fighting was between the SPLA and rebels.
“We have no information about those killed from both SPLA and rebels because the commander did not send us any reports about casualties but we heard that the SPLA have captured guns and the commander is still pursuing the rebels,” Dhieu stated.
He said that the attackers were repulsed allowing civilians who were temporarily displaced to return back to the area.
Lakes is not usually counted as one of the ‘conflict states’ of South Sudan because there has been little conflict between the two main warring parties. But the state has been wracked by persistent inter-clan violence made worse by factors related to the national crisis including forced recruitment, proliferation of firearms, a breakdown of law and of the constitutional order generally.
According to a tally done independently by Radio Tamazuj, well over 100 people died in violent incidents in Lakes State during the last three months of the year 2014. The governor of the state is a caretaker military governor whose constitutional term of office has expired.