South Sudanese government and rebel troops clashed around Nhialdiu area in Unity State on Monday morning, a spokesman for the rebel group said.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj yesterday, James Yoach, spokesperson for the SPLA-IO faction, said that they clashed with government soldiers on Monday morning around Nhialdiu area.

He further said the government forces attacked their positions in Nhialdiu on Friday, but they were repulsed.Yoach claimed that they are still controlling Nhialdiu area.

The rebel official denied accusations that they kidnapped about 20 aid workers during the clashes in Nhialdiu area.

For its part, the World Food Programme (WFP) confirmed to Radio Tamazuj yesterday that none of its workers was abducted in Nhialdiu area, saying they do not have any information about the abduction of aid workers in Unity State.

Lam Tungwar Kueigwong, Information, Youth and Culture Minister of Northern Liech State, had blamed Riek Machar’s forces for the abduction of 20 aid workers in Nhialdiu when they briefly overran the town.