South Sudan’s government and rebel forces have traded accusations of attacks in Leer County in South Sudan’s Unity State over the last two days in spite of a permanent ceasefire.
SPLA-IO spokesman in Leer County James Yoach told Radio Tamazuj that the government forces attacked their positions in various areas outside Leer town on 8 November, killing at least 19 people including a chief, a woman and a child.
He described what happened as a violation of human rights and the ceasefire agreement signed in Addis Ababa between the two sides. Yoach also accused the government forces of burning houses and looting citizens’ properties, besides the abduction of women.
For his part, SPLA spokesperson Col Philip Aguer denied that SPLA forces attacked Leer. Instead, he accused the rebel forces of attacking Leer town which is controlled by the government forces. He said that SPLA forces had not moved outside Leer town throughout this period.
Separately, Philip Aguer explained that arrangements were still underway with regard to demilitarization of Juba in accordance with the signed security arrangements, but he pointed to a reason for delay in this regard, saying that construction of military barracks outside Juba needs approval from the Central Equatoria government.
File photo: Tayar port in Leer County after being destroyed in May 2015