A top security official in Unity State has accused the SPLA-IO rebel group of carrying out an attack this morning near the state capital Bentiu.

William Bakuet, Security Advisor in Unity State said, “The rebels came and attacked our positions on the side of the southeast of Bentiu, this morning at 8:00.”

Fighting had ceased by 10:00 in the morning. The attack was repulsed and the attackers withdrew, he said, noting they had come from Guit County.

According to the advisor, the attack took place specifically at a place called Makhazin, east of Bentiu.

“The situation is stable, there is no problem,” he told Radio Tamazuj after the attack.

But the spokesman of the SPLA forces Col. Philip Aguer, told Radio Tamazuj from Juba that the latest attacks reported were in oil-producing areas yesterday, without mentioning any fighting near Bentiu itself this morning.  

Similarly, a political spokesperson of SPLA-IO, Manawa Gatkuoth, downplayed the importance of the reported fighting, saying it was minor and the result of provocations by the government to shell their positions.