SPLA-IO forces clashed with SPLA-Juba forces in northern Upper Nile State on Monday morning, north of Renk town in South Sudan’s only remaining oil-producing state.

Col. Philip Aguer, spokesman of the SPLA-Juba forces loyal to Salva Kiir, said at a press conference that the SPLA-IO fighters launched a ground attack on their positions in Duk Duk at 5:45 a.m. following artillery shelling since 4:00 a.m.

Aguer said that the attacking force was two battalions strong and commanded by Brig-Gen. Peter Lim, a commander who defected from the Tiger Battalion, Kiir’s presidential guard, in mid-December 2013.

“They were defeated and they withdrew. They went back to a place called Tibol. Tibol is a base for SAF – Sudan Armed Forces – and at the border with Sennar,” he said, saying that the attackers may be regrouping in Tibol.

Aguer acknowledged that 5 SPLA-Juba soldiers were killed and 21 wounded, while reporting heavier losses inflicted on SPLA-IO forces.

He warned of the possibility of further attacks: “We expect other attacks as they did last time when they attacked SPLA the same route – they came from the border with Sudan and they started their attack with Duk Duk and then later on they went to Arga, where they were finally defeated and they were followed up to the borders.”

He was referring to fighting in September in the same area.

In a written statement, SPLA-IO military spokesperson Lul Ruai also reported clashes in Duk Duk area and also Gerbenna northeast of Renk, but he apparently had no details about the fighting. 

Meanwhile, the SPLM-IO chief negotiator in Addis Ababa also announced today that Kiir’s forces today shelled their positions at Pham el Zeraf in Jonglei.

Separately, some skirmishes broke out also in parts of Unity State on Saturday.

According to Aguer, there is also the potential for clashes in another part of Upper Nile State in coming days. “SPLA is monitoring another preparation near Maban, which we doubt it will take place but that is a potential area of rebels that may be attacking the SPLA in time to come,” he said.