The South Sudan army SPLA has lost another crucial base 80kms northwards of the recently taken Upper Nile capital of Malakal.
The white army warming up before retaking Malakal and Akoka in early February, 2014. Photo: past file|Nyamilepedia
February 21, 2014 (CR) — Sources in SPLA say the rebels attacked Akoka base last night and summarily took it without much resistance from the government army who withdrew.
“the scope of casualty is unknown since the officials in Juba have not yet directly communicated to us,” a source told Chimpreports.
The rebels of former vice president Dr. Riek Machar took full Malakal on Monday morning under the command of Maj. Gen. Gathoth Gatkouth though SPLA says they tactically withdrew in respect of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement signed in Addis Ababa not long ago and did not want more bloodshed.
Humanitarian agencies like International Medical Corpse says about 16 people have been killed in the wake of the renewed fighting which even entered the United Nation’s Mission in South Sudan compounds where thousands of civilians are sheltered.
Soldiers from Akoka were also protecting and preventing any loosing of the big oil fields of Paloich and Adar which neighbours the base.
The oil production work in Adar and Gumri were closed yesterday when most of the essential workers were evacuated to capital Juba mainly expatriates.
