Forces of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) lost one officer when they came under attack in Nasser yesterday, according to their spokesman.

Col. Philip Aguer told Radio Tamazuj that the rebels loyal to Riek Machar attacked SPLA positions in Nasser from 4:00 p.m. until the evening on Tuesday.

Aguer said the attack resulted in the killing of one officer and wounded two others. He said the attack constituted a violation of the cessation of hostilities agreement. 

The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) confirmed separately the attack in Nasser.

According to a UN spokesperson in New York, citing reports from the peacekeeping mission, “fighting broke out this morning between armed youths and SPLA troops in the vicinity of the Upper Nile State town of Nassir.”

The UN peacekeepers reported that seven rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) fired by “armed youths” landed close to the UN base in Nasser.

“Government troops responded with RPGs and small-arms fire from positions near the government hospital in the town,” the spokesman said. 

File photo