July 07, 2017(Nyamilepedia) —— South Sudan’s SPLA mainstream, a warring faction loyal to president Salva Kiir, has gone on major offensives for the last two days, attacking Machar’s SPLA faction strongholds in Upper Nile and Equatoria.
In Upper Nile, SPLA-IG launched offensives in Mathiang, Mangok and Malou in attempt to capture SPLM/A-IO headquarters in Pagak, a major border town that has been occupied by Machar’s troops since December 2013.
According to SPLA-IO spokesman, Brig. Gen. William Gatjiath Deng, all the offensives in Upper Nile were defeated by SPLA-IO forces and forced to retreat.
Gatjiath alleged that at least 74 soldiers on Kiir’s side were killed and four mounted land-cruisers were captured by their forces.
“In this intense fighting, the Juba regime suffered a very debilitating loss both in human and materials. In terms of human, the Juba regime lost some seventy four (74) soldiers, including eight (8) officers, on spot. This is addition to those injured and without access to any food or medical attention whatsoever. Materially, the Juba regime abandoned one (1) Worrol mounted with 14 (4) barrels and other four (4) land cruisers mounted with 12.7mm machine guns.” Said Brig. Gen. Gatjiath Deng.
“In the Mangok, Mathiang, Malou and Biot fighting, the gallant SPLA-IO forces of Division Five (5) under the command of Cdr Major General Khor Chuol Giet and Deputy Sector Four (4) Commander Major General Peter Lim Bol resisted and repulsed the Juba regime aggression from the Guelguk direction back to their Malou temporary trenches, where their remnants are now being contained.” He continued.
In Equatoria, the two warring parties clashed near Torit town, the capital Imatong State.
According to rebels’ spokesman, SPLA-IO also defeated the government troops and forced them to retreat to Torit town.
“In the case of Torit, the Juba regime forces tried to once again move beyond Enyif and Moti only to be contained by the brave SPLA-IO Anyanya Division forces under the command of Cdr Major General Patrick Ohiti Chapuho. The shelling by the Juba regime forces of the SPLA-IO positions in the Torit area lasted for less than ten minutes before fear of SPLA-IO response forced them to hurriedly retreat to their hideouts in Torit town.” Gatjiath continued.
As the African Union (AU) and its partners struggle to initiate another political settlement to the escalating conflict in the South Sudan, General Salva Kiir Mayardit is busy committing more atrocities and attacking SPLA-IO positions in Torit, Mangok, Mathiang, Malou, Biot in the Mathiang Payam.
Gatjiath blames Mr. Kiir for declaring war yet contrary he is calling on the international community to fund a National Dialogue.
“Meanwhile, we call upon the United Nations (UN), African Union (AU) and the international community to hold the brutal and ruthless Juba regime of General Salva Kiir Mayardit responsible for the worsening, egregious and appalling human rights abuses being committed by its forces throughout South Sudan and in the neighbouring countries.” Gatjiath reiterates.
Despites attempt by the region and TROIKA to contain South Sudan’s conflict through a peace agreement, war has continued to escalate for the past 4 years.
Both politicians and military generals continually switch sides and war has continued to uproot many civilians from their homes.
