The acting governor of South Sudan’s Lakes State has downplayed threats made by Riek Machar's SPLM-IO rebel movement to attack the state capital Rumbek.

SPLA-IO officer and former director general of the state-run SSTV/SSR Khamis Abdelatif had instructed Lakes State civilians to leave the area within 72 hours, saying his forces would attack.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj, Jok Ayom said the security situation was stable in the state.

However, he said there was an incident of cattle raiding on Saturday night in which there were clashes near the state legislative assembly. He added one bull was killed in those clashes. The acting governor confirmed their readiness to repulse any attack by the SPLA-IO rebels.