S Sudan warring parties trade accusations over attacks in Leer

South Sudan’s government and rebel forces have traded accusations of attacks in Leer County in South Sudan’s Unity State on Tuesday in spite of a ceasefire declared by President Kiir and opposition leader Riek Machar last month.

South Sudan’s government and rebel forces have traded accusations of attacks in Leer County in South Sudan’s Unity State on Tuesday in spite of a ceasefire declared by President Kiir and opposition leader Riek Machar last month.

SPLA-IO spokesman in Leer County James Yoach told Radio Tamazuj that the government forces attacked their positions in Kaigai, Pilliny, Ponyor and Adok areas, killing a civilian, besides the wounding of one employee working for an aid agency during fighting.

He further said the government forces managed to capture Pilliny area and that they were shelling Adok area until yesterday evening.

Yoach also accused the government forces of burning houses and looting citizens’ properties in Pilliny, prompting many families to run into the bush.

For his part, SPLA spokesperson Brig Lul Ruai Koang denied claims that SPLA forces attacked the SPLA-IO positions in Leer. Instead, he accused the rebel forces of attacking their positions in Leer area. He said they defeated the SPLA-IO rebels from Leer, while confirming clashes between the two warring parties in Adok area yesterday morning.

File photo: Tayar port in Leer County after being destroyed in May 2015


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