The Upper Nile state government accused the SPLA-IO rebels of heavily shelling SPLA-Juba forces at Doleib Hill Sunday and Monday.
“This morning we heard sound of heavy artillery at morning until 10:00am when sound of gunshot stopped,” said Upper Nile acting governor Gatluak Liphos Diu.
Doleib Hill is about 20 km from the Upper Nile state capital Malakal. Gatluak said the rebels also shelled government positions from Canal south of the Sobat River.
SPLA-Juba spokesperson Philip Aguer confirmed to Radio Tamazuj that the rebels attacked Doleib Sunday morning and said they were repulsed by government forces. He could not confirm that further shelling took place Monday.
“The rebels attacked SPLA positions using artilleries and crossed the river, but the SPLA repulsed them and they are being pursued into Korfulus and Canal area, in Pigi county,” he also said, speaking to Voice of America (VOA).
SPLA-IO spokesperson Lul Ruai Koang denied the rebel forces were to blame, telling VOA that it was the government who attacked.
“The fighting started in the morning and it was accompanied by shelling of our positions at Canal, at the mouth of Jonglei Canal,” Koang said, adding that the SPLA-Juba and a local militia “…started moving towards our positions south of Sobat River” early on Monday.
Upper Nile state information minister Peter Hoth told VOA that the Dolieb fighting did not affect Malakal.
Acting governor Gatluak said the situation in northern Upper Nile state is under control with no reports of violence.