Opposition forces loyal to the former Vice President Riek Machar launched attacks in the northern part of oil-producing Unity State, multiple sources told Radio Tamazuj on Monday.
The fields have been off-line since December when gunmen killed some oil workers and a defected army division temporarily seized control of much of the state from the government.
Recently, however, the government announced plans to resume production of crude oil by July as well as finish construction of an oil refinery, a joint venture project of Safinat Russia and state firm Nilepet.
One foreign oil worker was seriously wounded and his vehicle stolen during the fighting over the last two days, which also caused people to start to run away in both Mayom and Bentiu towns.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj this afternoon, Unity State Security Advisor John Malok confirmed that rebels attacked the government troops at Tor Abiath in Unity State this morning, saying fighting was still ongoing between the government forces and rebels at Tor Abiath area.
“We are clashing with the rebels. These coup plotters came from morning and attacked our forces in a place called Tor Abiath because the force they found there was small. We are clashing with them at the junction of Tor Abiath,” he said.
The official alleged that the group came from the north and had been aided by the Sudanese government. “They came with a huge force and of course the Sudan government has reinforced them with ammunitions and bullets,” said John Malok, the state security advisor.
He stated that they were clashing now in a place called ‘Kilo 30’. The same location was mentioned last night by rebel spokesperson Peter Riek Gew, who told Sudan Tirubne they captured Kilo 30 and other areas in or around the oil field.
“We have been respecting ceasefire agreement for so long but the SPLA never do that. We have managed to repulse twin attack launched by SPLA on us that led to our gallant forces – SPLA in Opposition – to capture Tor-abieth, Tharwangyiela, kilo 30 (Sikasik) which is known as Kubur Nyabol,” Gew said.
SPLA confirms fighting
SPLA Spokesperson Col. Philip Aguer confirmed heavy exchange of gunfire between the rebels and army for control of key areas in Unity State yesterday evening. But he rejected the claim by the rebels force of controlling the oil fields in northern Unity State.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Monday morning, SPLA spokesperson Aguer reiterated that the SPLA forces managed to repulse the rebels back to an area bordering Sudan after serious fighting.
“The forces loyal to Dr Riek Machar came from Panthou this morning,” he said, using the Dinka name for Heglig, Sudan’s most productive oil field, located across from the northern border of Unity State.
“They launched an attack on the oil field north of Unity State and looted one vehicle which belongs to the oil workers in the fields,” Aguer explained.
He further noted that one foreign engineer was seriously wounded and his vehicle was looted by the rebels during the fighting on Monday morning.
Col. Aguer emphasized that the SPLA forces are in full control of the oil field which the rebels claim to have taken. This point was stressed by the state security advisor as well: “Our force is a good one, the SPLA has held its positions and is fine.”
“Now our forces are chasing after them, they are retreating,” he said, noting that two SPLA batllions were involved in the defence of the field.
Reports from Bentiu, Mayom
John Malok further stated that the opposition forces launched their attack from the direction of Mayom, a town devastated by fighting in early January, now defended by the SSLA, a government-allied force.
Two sources in Mayom, including the county commissioner, told Radio Tamazuj that they heard from afar sounds of heavy guns or artillery for several hours this morning. Fearing attack, many citizens in the town fled to outlying villages.
In Bentiu, meanwhile, some civilians started running toward the UN base seeking protection, Sudan Tribune reported, saying that they were scared by the sounds of the battle coming from outside the city.
Sudan Tribune also reported that on Sunday government forces blocked some people from entering the UN protection site at Rubkona.
Commenting on the panic, State Security Advisor John Malok said, “The citizens were running because those people telephoned them and told them ‘We are coming,’ so we told the citizens to calm down and told them that these people are just intimidating you.”
File photo (BBC)