[Gurtong]– Ms. Ellen Margrethe Loej, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for South Sudan and head of UNMISS said, “It is highly regrettable that fighting has flare afresh in Malakal at a time when the situation appeared so promising.
“With the hope that people would soon be able to return home and life would be restored to the city. Once again the lives of innocent civilians are being affected by the cycle of violence in this part of South Sudan,” Loej decried.
“We call on the military commanders in charge of the belligerent forces to order an immediate halt to the fighting and open a dialogue to resolve the causes of the violence.” Said the UNMISS Chief.
UNMISS statement extended to Gurtong, Wednesday evening further stated that the UN Mission in South Sudan is gravely concerned about the fighting in the Upper Nile state capital of Malakal that broke out in the evening of Tuesday, 21 April and continued into the early afternoon of Wednesday.
Joseph Contreras, UN Mission Acting spokesperson said UNMISS started receiving internally displaced persons (IDPs) seeking protection from the Tuesday evening violence.
“The influx of IDPs has continued throughout today, and at least 1,500 unarmed civilians have joined the existing IDP population of over 26,000 who are being sheltered by the Mission.”
Earlier on Wednesday, Indian peacekeepers extracted the acting director of the Malakal Teaching Hospital and a colleague who were trapped in town during the fighting and brought them to the UNMISS base.
Rwandan peacekeepers have provided protection to some of the IDPs fleeing the violence. UNMISS has also been broadcasting peace messages on local radio stations.
Five injured members of the staff of Upper Nile State Governor, Simon Kun Puoch are receiving medical treatment at the Mission’s Level II hospital” said UNMISS.
Meanwhile, the Sudan’s People Liberation Army (SPLA) General Head Quarters in a press briefing Wednesday evening said the national army is in control of the town dismissing the rumor of the defection of Maj. Gen. Johnson Olony Thubo.
Col. Philip Aguer Panyang, the Army Spokesperson told the reporters at Bilpam in a news briefing that the rumors that Gen. Johnson Olony defected are a lie and a cheap propaganda.
“The chief of Gen. Staff 1st Lt. Gen. Paul Malong Awan has been in contact with Gen. Johnson Olony since the incidence started and through the day (Wednesday)” he said.
“We don’t know what happened whether it was fighting but one of the guards of the Governor was wounded and as his colleagues were carrying him to the hospital, they passed by the guards of the house of Gen. Johnson Olony and a misunderstanding took place” he explain.
Col. Aguer said out of that misunderstanding between the two groups of soldiers one from the headquarters of the Governor and others from the headquarters of Gen. Olony, a clash took place and two soldiers were killed from the side of the Head Quarters of the Governor and two were wounded from the side of the headquarters of Gen. Olony.
“This morning (Wednesday) a sporadic fight took place within Malakal but the SPLA forces under the command of Gen. Arkanjello Abanga quickly established control over Malakal town” he said.
“Malakal is now under the control of the SPLA forces commanded by Brig. Gen. Arkanjello Abanga” he added.
Col. Aguer said, the SPLA Command is organizing and investigation team to go to Malakal and investigate into the incident.
Meanwhile, Maj. Gen. Johnson Olony Thubo said on Wednesday when contacted that the guard of the state Governor attacked his resident with two vehicles on Tuesday at about 9 O’clock evening.
Gen. Olony denied having his own army but said the soldiers he has are the SPLA Juba based National army whom he is commanding in Upper Nile after his head Lt. Gen. Johnson Gony Beliu left the area.
“I don’t have my own army. What I have is the SPLA army for the Republic of South Sudan. The rumor that the fighting was between Dinka and Shilluk is a true lie. It was the guard of the Governor who attacked my place” he said.
Hon. Gatluak Liphoth Diew, the state government Acting Spokesperson denied the claim.
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