At least six government soldiers have died in fighting with rebel fighters in the town of Koch in Northern Liech state, including 9 civilians, a government official said on Monday, as heavy gunfire erupted in the area on Sunday.
The fighting broke out on Sunday in Koch County between troops loyal to President Salva Kiir and soldiers who support former first vice president Riek Machar. The ceasefire deal signed in Addis Ababa came into force on Sunday morning, but clashes erupted between both sides soon afterwards.
Northern Liech security adviser John Maluk told Radio Tamazuj that six government soldiers and nine civilians were killed during clashes in the town of Koch.
The government official accused the rebels of starting the fighting within the town of Koch yesterday. “The fighting was inside Koch town yesterday morning,” he said.
Maluk pointed out that 23 people were wounded from their side. He claimed that they captured two rebel soldiers during the clashes. “We killed 27 rebel soldiers during the clashes, but I don’t know the number of the wounded soldiers from their side,” he said.
For his part, rebel spokesman Paul Lam Gabriel said four people were killed and five others wounded from their side.” Nobody was captured from our side. We killed 25 government soldiers during the clashes and more than 30 soldiers were wounded,” he said.