Riek Machar’s rebels attacked SPLA-Juba forces at Ayod County Tuesday morning, the Jonglei State government said.

"It happened this morning at 7:00. This morning they attacked Ayod and our army repulsed them, the rebels," said the state information minister Jody Jonglei. "It's not known where they have gone but the army repulsed them from our area."

Jonglei said the attackers were coming from a Lou Nuer area and scattered after the clashes.

National Minister of Information and Broadcasting Michael Makuei Lueth also confirmed the incident.

SPLA forces captured Ayod in late April despite significant defections of Nuer troops during the advance on the town.

The army has controlled Ayod ever since, but its position in the county was weakened by desertions in June as many troops left the front and went home.

File photo: SPLA soldiers in Jonglei

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