Government and opposition forces traded accusations over fighting in South Sudan’s Unity State on Saturday, raising tension in the area.
SPLA-IO spokesperson in Unity State James Yoach told Radio Tamazuj that the SPLA soldiers attacked their positions in the area.
Yoach said yesterday “the government forces have attacked Thikiel and Jagwer in the eastern part of Rubkuai in Mayendit County. On the southern side of Unity state, the government forces have been violating the peace agreement” said Yuach.
For his part, Lam Tunwar, information minister in the proposed Southern Liech State, denied any skirmishes with the opposition forces. Tungwar claimed that clashes erupted among the SPLA-IO forces in the state.
The local official pointed out that the clashes were between forces loyal to former first vice president and those allied to the newly appointed First Vice President Taban Deng Gai. “The fighting was within the camp of the SPLM-IO not the government “he said.
“There was not serious fighting, but there were movements of the army because there are forces loyal to Riek Machar and another army loyal to the incumbent first vice president Taban Deng Gai” he added.