The SPLA-IO faction led by former vice president Riek Machar has claimed responsibility for the killing of 12 government soldiers in an ambush on a military vehicle along the Juba-Bor road on Monday evening.

Luka Rachol, a rebel-appointed governor of Boma State, told Radio Tamazuj yesterday that they ambushed a Land Cruiser vehicle carrying government troops along the Juba-Bor road on Monday.

The rebel official pointed out that they destroyed the vehicle and killed 12 soldiers near al-Mohandisin Bridge. He claimed that the SPLA-IO forces managed to seize light machine guns following fighting between the two sides.

According to Luka, the attack on the government forces came in response to the killing of Pibor citizens near Juba recently.

Radio Tamazuj couldn’t reach government officials in Juba to comment on the matter.