Clashes erupted on Wednesday between government troops and opposition fighters in Adok al-Bahr area in South Sudan’s Unity State, a deputy spokesman for the SPLA army said.

Col. Santo Doming, deputy military spokesman of the SPLA army, told Radio Tamazuj on Thursday that they ambushed Machar’s forces who were planning to attack villagers suspected to be government supporters.

“They agreed to raid cattle in that village and burn the village and kill those people so that the SPLA cannot get any information from there,” said.

“But a man from the same village who was in the meeting went and narrated what was agreed by the rebels. So, the chief went to the SPLA and informed them, that’s why when the rebels came, they fell into an ambush,” he added.  

He further said fighting between the two forces continued for about 49 minutes in the area. Santo admitted that one soldier was killed and six others wounded from their side, while claiming that they killed about nine rebel soldiers.

Radio Tamazuj couldn’t reach rebel officials in the area to comment on the matter.