South Sudanese troops and mechanized forces loyal to the Juba government have mobilized in the frontline area between Bor, Twic and Uror counties, according to a military source. On the other side, a rebel official says they are aware of the troop movements and they are prepared to resist any attack.
On Thursday evening, a source within the SPLA-Juba forces moving toward the Lou Nuer territory told Radio Tamazuj that they were crossing Jonglei Canal from Gadiang to Poktap via Panyagor in Twic East County.
“Our forces tried to move directly to Yuai capital of Uror County through desert but it rained heavily between Gadiang to Uror, so we decided to return to Gadiang and now we are crossing canal headed to Poktap and take that route to Uror,” said the soldier.
Uror County is under control of the rebel group SPLA-IO. Their forces in the area are under the command of General Garwich Dual.
According to Koang Rambang, the rebels’ deputy governor of ‘Bieh State’, which covers the Lou Nuer territory of eastern Jonglei, they heard from their own sources within the government that the government forces are moving toward their area. He confirmed that they expect fighting.
“The government is moving because they want to attack our people and they want to burn the houses of the people… this is the time of the harvest and the government does not want the people to cultivate,” he said.
Koang said he expects the intention of the attackers is to overrun the major towns of Bieh State, mentioning several locations including Akobo which is located near the Ethiopian border. “They want to attack Akobo, they want to attack Uror, they want to attack Yuai, and places like Waat. That’s their plan.”
He said that the SPLA-IO forces are prepared to resist the attacks. “We are ready.”
File photo: Bieh State Deputy Governor Koang Rambang (Radio Tamazuj)