Government forces clashed with the Sudan People's Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) in several areas in north-central and northern Unity State today. The outcome of the clashes is not yet clear though some casualties have been confirmed.

Dickson Gatluak Jock Nyuot, a spokesman for SPLA-IO, stated today in a press release that government forces attacked from the state capital Bentiu starting around 7:00 this morning. He said the government troops struck out in two directions, one toward Nhialdiu Payam, an area under control of SPLA-IO and the other toward Guit County.

“Our gallant forces are now fighting back the government troops and soon they will repulse them back,” he said, adding that they were acting in self-defense to protect their territory and denying the existence of any plan to attack government positions.

Meanwhile, other sources reported fighting north of the state capital in the Pariang County area.

Aimee Ansari, Country Director of CARE International in South Sudan said that they were providing medical care to people wounded in the ongoing fighting in Pariang County.

“The CARE-supported hospital in Pariang has been receiving wounded for most of the afternoon – so far we’ve treated nine soldiers. The fighting has been ongoing since this morning and we’ve heard it’s been particularly fierce. CARE staff are preparing for more casualties,” she said.

Also today, the IGAD Monitoring and Verification Mechanism released a monitoring report blamig the government for provoking clashes in the same areas south of Bentiu last month. “On 23 March, the MVT investigated reports of fighting south-east of Bentiu, and confirmed that Government Forces had launched attacks on Guit, an area under the control of SPLM/A (IO).”

“On 24 March, the MVT investigated reports of clashes south-west of Bentiu, and determined that Government Forces had launched an attack on Nhialdiu, an area under the control of SPLM/A (IO). There was no evidence to suggest that there had been shelling by SPLM/A (IO) Forces against GRSS positions prior to the shelling,” reads the report.

On the other hand, the ceasefire monitors also blamed the rebel SPLA-IO for ambushing a government vehicle in Rubkona on 17 March. 

File photo