S Sudan rebels announce capture of Malakal
Rebels loyal to SPLA-IO leader Riek Machar together with the allied forces of 'Aguelek' militia leader Johnson Olony claim to have overrun Malakal over the weekend.
The capital of Upper Nile state was already depopulated and mostly destroyed before rebel forces took the city and hence it has little military or strategic value.
But the city lies en route to the oil-producing Paloich area in Melut County to the north.
“Upper Nile state's capital, Malakal, is under our full control. It was captured 10pm Saturday,” said Riek Machar's spokesman James Gatdet.
The rebel spokesman explained, “A joint force of SPLM/SPLA [IO] and Aguelek under the overall command of Major General Johnson Olony took control of the town.”
He noted that the attack on Malakal came after government forces attacked SPLA-IO in Canal area to the south of Malakal and elsewhere around the city, blaming the government for violating the ceasefire signed more than a year ago.
Radio Tamazuj was unable to reach a spokesman of the South Sudanese government for commenton the news.
Separately, however, a displaced person inside the UN 'Protection' site on the north side of Malakal town said there were battles since Saturday until the early morning hours Sunday.
He said that Nuer and Shilluk tribesmen inside the UN POC site were celebrating on Sunday, indicating that the rebels had taken over at least large parts of Malakal.
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