The SPLA-In Opposition has denied that their soldiers recently attacked SPLA-Juba positions in Bentiu town.
Petro Jouj Machar, military spokesperson for South Sudanese rebel forces loyal to Riek Machar in Unity state, told Radio Tamazuj Wednesday that the SPLA-IO was instead responding to an attack by government forces in the area.
“The government doesn’t want to tell the truth about its attacks on our positions in various areas in Unity state, they instead rushed to accuse us of attacking them,” he said.
The rebel spokesman accused the government of preparing to launch more attacks on their positions around Bentiu and Rubkona.
On Tuesday, South Sudan’s Defense Minister Kuol Manyang accused the SPLA-IO fighters of attacking their positions in Bentiu with mortars.
In spite of this attack, the situation in Bentiu is “normal,” the defense minister said.
Manyang also claimed that the rebel forces on the same day shelled Nasser town with mortars.
File photo: JEM forces allied to SPLA-Juba fighting in Bentiu in May 2014