Unclear who controls Fangak after clashes
South Sudanese officials are unsure who controls Fangak County headquarters after clashes in the northern Jonglei area, which previously was controlled by SPLM-IO.
Col. Philip Aguer, spokesman of the SPLA faction loyal to Salva Kiir, told Radio Tamzuj on Friday, “There were clashes in Fangak… between the forces of SPLA with the forces of Riek Machar. So the forces of Riek Machar attacked the forces of SPLA in Atar area over the last three days.”
“And yesterday they attacked Biel area near Atar but the SPLA forces repulsed the attackers and chased them in the direction of Phom al Zeraf,” added Aguer.
“This happened yesterday but up until now we don’t have details,” he said. Asked about who controls Fangak town now he said, “I don’t have information.”
For his part, the Minister of Information of Jonglei State said he did not know anything about the clashes, pointing out that the area was not under control of the state government prior to the clashes.
“It was not in our hands,” pointed out the minister, Jody Jonglei.
For his part, the SPLM-IO military spokesman Lul Ruai said that their forces completed a “tactical withdrawal” from the town centre of Fangak after coming under attack by artillery and riverine units for three to four days.
He called Fangak a “ghost town.” He said the withdrawal was a “temporary setback.”
Phom al Zeraf also fell to attacking forces, he said: “Kiir's tribal army entered Phom al Zeraf and deliberately burned all down all the structures which survived the un-proportionate and destructive artillery, mortar fires used.”
Last month the SPLA faction loyal to Salva Kiir acknowledged attacking nearby Pigi County. The attack resulted in the displacement of about 35,000 people.
File photo
Related:
Attack reported in northern Jonglei State (27 Nov.)
Opinion: Call for assistance in Fangak County (23 Nov.)