{{South Sudanese rebels of the SPLM/A In Opposition said on Tuesday their forces have advanced on Jonglei state’s Duk county after repulsing government troops and their foreign allies who had attacked their defence positions on Monday in the Greater Bor area.}}
the rebels military spokesperson, Brig Lul Ruai Koang, said that rebels had taken full control of the main town of Duk Padiet in Duk county after defeating the government forces in the area.
Duk Padiet town is north-east of Jonglei state’s capital, Bor, and strategic area for the defence of the state capital.
In Juba, the South Sudanese army confirmed the capture of the area by the rebels. He further said the fighters of the SPLM-In-Opposition launched their attack on Duk County on Tuesday.
“The rebels of Riek Machar attacked and overran Duk County yesterday at around 5:00pm. They are now in the area,” Aguer told Sudan Tribune on Wednesday.
This attack is “a clear violation of the cessation of hostilities agreement, which they have never respected. The SPLA has a right to defend itself and to protect the civil population and their properties,” he further stressed.
Aguer , however, did not elaborate on the army plans to retake the control of the area, although military sources claimed that government troops were regrouping and organising themselves for a riposte against the rebels.
However the rebel spokesperson claimed that their forces were advancing and pursuing the government troops to the south-west of the area.
“The government troops are currently being pursued in directions towards Poktap payam west. A lot of equipment have been already captured from the fleeing (government forces),” Koang claimed.
On Sunday, the former governor of Jonglei state and current lawmaker representing Duk County in the national parliament in Juba, Philip Thon Leek, appealed to the government to deploy more troops to the area as the rebels were mobilising for imminent attacks.
However, the rebels said they were in preparations in anticipation of an imminent attack from the government against their defensive positions in the county.
The rebels spokesperson, Koang, further dismissed the government announcements that the SPLA forces were advancing on Nasir, calling it a “wishful thinking”.
On Monday, the SPLA spokesperson, Col. Philip Aguer, told media that government troops (SPLA) were battling the rebels’ for control of their stronghold town of Nasir.
{sudantribune}
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