April 18th 2018 (Nyamilpedia) – Forces loyal to the South Sudanese government have suffered setbacks this morning after several battles between the government and rebel forces outside Bentiu, South Sudanese rebels under the leadership of the former First Vice President Riek Machar told the Nyamilepedia.
Speaking to the Nyamilepedia this afternoon, Brigadier William Gatjiath Deng said that the opposition forces killed a number of government soldiers including a Lt. Colonel and a Major.
“15 government soldiers were killed at Kuergeng in Guit county including Lt. Col. Ding Ding Riik and Major Koang Goal”, Gatjiath said.
He said that their forces captured number of weapons as they capture Kuergeng Payam in Guit county and added that the battle is underway in Tharjiath without providing details.
“We captured 25 AK-47 and 4 PKM plus 2 RPG all in good condition, and similar fighting is going on in Tharjiath” he said adding that one soldier was killed from their side with three minor injuries.
He said that they are holding three aid workers saying that the group will release them after the fighting end.
Early in the day, residents in the UN camp in Rubkona told the Nyamilepedia that clashes continued in eastern Bentiu at 3:00 am causing panic among the camp residents. This come days after the rebel said they captured Nhialdiu among other areas.
Kuergeng has been under the rebels control since the onset of the civil war in December 2013 and any fighting in the area suggests government offensive against the rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO).
