South Sudanese rebel forces belonging to the SPLA-IO faction have attacked Bentiu with mortars today, according to South Sudan’s Defense Minister Kuol Manyang.
Kuol told Radio Tamazuj, “What happened is the rebels shelled Bentiu town with mortars. This morning the rebel shelling lasted two hours. There were no casualties – no report of casualties came to us yet.”
In spite of this attack, the situation in Bentiu is “normal,” the defense minister said.
“Also this morning they attacked an area northwest of Malakal – at Kaka area,” the defense minister said, explaining the attacking force had come from Wadakona, which is in rebel-held Manyo County. He said SPLA defeated the attackers and seized some of their vehicles.
The defense minister claimed that the rebel forces also today shelled Nasser with mortars.
Commenting on these latest attacks, Kuol said, “This means that Dr. Riek either is not serious about the peace negotiators or he does not have control over his forces… but I am sure he does not have control over those forces.”
File photo: Kuol Manyang