South Sudanese forces loyal to Salva Kiir and allied JEM forces took over Bentiu, the capital of Unity State, in early May 2014, about two weeks after the fall of the town to SPLA-IO rebels.
Videos shot from the UN base on 4-6 May show troop movements during the takeover, as well as SPLA-Juba’s temporary withdrawal during an SPLA-IO counterattack on 5 May.
SPLA-Juba and JEM moved back into Bentiu on 8 May, one day before the signing of a peace accord in Addis Ababa. They have continued to hold the city since May.
Radio Tamazuj today releases three videos taken during the fighting.
Video 1: ‘SPLA-Juba forces move into Bentiu, 4 May 2014‘
0:00: Three Typhoon-style armored vehicles take up positions along the perimeter of the UN base in Bentiu. Small arms fire can be heard in the background.
0:47: Two pickup trucks mounted with rocket launchers are stationed beyond the perimeter of the UN base. Small arms fire is heard. Sources say these trucks belong to the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), a Darfuri rebel group fighting alongside SPLA-Juba.
0:54: One of the vehicles fires a rocket. More small arms fire is heard.
1:13 Two Typhoon-style vehicles take positions between the Bentiu UN base and Rubkona town. Small arms fire is heard though it is unclear if it is coming from the two Typhoons.
1:26, the video zooms out to show the proximity of these two military vehicles to the UN base, particularly the area where UNMISS and humanitarian staff offices and housing are located.
Sources who were in the UN Bentiu base when this footage was shot say the SPLA-Juba and JEM forces shown in the film may have been deliberately using the UN base and civilians inside as a human shield, preventing SPLA-IO forces from returning fire without risking killing UN personnel and UN-protected civilians.
One high-level source told Radio Tamazuj that after about an hour to an hour and a half, the SPLA-Juba and JEM forces removed their forces from alongside the base in response to a request by UNMISS.
Video 2: ‘SPLA-Juba forces retreat from Bentiu, 5 May 2014‘
0:12 An SPLA-Juba soldier and a UN peacekeeper rescue a child as a voice heard over a radio instructs UN and humanitarian staff to remain in a fortified bunker.
0:55 A vehicle burns and then explodes as a group of soldiers walk by.
1:15 The same vehicle explodes again as soldiers walk by.
1:25 More than a dozen trucks mounted by infantry of both SPLA-Juba and JEM drive from Rubkona toward the UN base, retreating from Bentiu. The trucks weave around each other and at times stop to let soldiers walk. Some of the soldiers fire over their comrades’ heads.
2:40 Heavy gunfire is heard as cars drive at high speed past the UN base in Bentiu.
4:30 Infantry move onto the road after the departure of the speeding vehicles. A soldier takes the weapon from the body of a dead soldier on the road. It is not clear whether the dead soldier is SPLA-Juba or SPLA-IO.
5:20 Soldiers gather around the body of the dead man and go through his belongings. One takes what appears to be a grenade. Others take unidentified items from his pockets. One removes his boots and socks. Another man pulls off the dead man’s ring and places it on his own finger.
Video 3: ‘SPLA-Juba forces move into Bentiu, 5 May 2014‘
In this video, SPLA-Juba forces pass the main gate of the UN base in Bentiu in the direction of Rubkona. At least two dozen foot soldiers, a tank, and a machine-gun mounted pickup pass the gate. The tank is strapped with various goods including what looks like a rolled up mattress.