The commissioner of Melut County in South Sudan’s Upper Nile State says the security situation in the oil producing area is stable following an earlier outbreak of conflict elsewhere in the state.

Upper Nile is the only remaining crude-producing state in South Sudan.  The rebels forced oil companies to stop pumping in Unity state in December last year.

Commissioner Dau Goch told Radio Tamazuj Thursday that local residents celebrated the Islamic feast and Martyr’s Day safely.

He said that defected troops moved southeast of Melut County along the border with Longichuk and Maiwut Counties last week.

He said the Oil Protection Unit secured the area, forcing the rebels to proceed to Buth in the south of Sudan’s Blue Nile state.

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