The South Sudanese military are claiming victory in Jonglei State after their capture of areas which were held by the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition (SPLM/A-IO).
The rebels have admitted withdrawing from parts of northern Jonglei, but claimed the move was tactical.
It coincides with claims by the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) that its troops have routed SPLM/A-IO fighters who were in control of some parts of the state.
Government troops were given a week’s deadline to defeat the SPLM/A-IO.
SPLM-IO spokesperson Pal Mai Deng issued a statement on Wednesday saying they have pulled out of the towns of Motot, Pajut, Pathai, Pieri and Yuai. He was quick to point out that the withdrawal was a deliberate and operational strategy instead of signaling defeat for the rebels who are seen as allies of detained Riek Machar.
The sacked former vice-president in a shaky power-sharing government led by President Salva Kiir is facing charges of crime
Deng, a Machar ally who served as water resources and irrigation minister, described his fighters as a genocide-stopping self-defence, and peace-keeping force whose morale is still high even in the face of temporary battlefield setbacks against the South Sudanese military.
The SPLM/A-IO claimed that atrocities have been committed by SSPDF troops who have moved into areas vacated by the rebels and they include mass killing of civilians, burning of homes and sexual violence.
SSPDF spokesman, Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang has denied the accusation, saying civilians in the areas freed from rebel control have been assured of protection by the South Sudanese state.
Koang said ‘all bases under the command of the rebels have been recaptured while equipment abandoned by retreating fighters such as a battle tank have been commandeered.
He said security ha returned to the recaptured areas and called on displaced residents to return and rebuild their lives.
The conflict in Jonglei State is viewed as a move to exert pressure on the government in Juba to release Mr Machar detained since last year for allegedly sanctioning a deadly attack on a military base in Upper Nile State in which a senior army official and over 100 other personnel were killed.
South Sudan descended into civil strife two years after attaining independence from the rest of Sudan in 2011.
Despite a lull in the unrest following a so-called Revitalised Peace Agreement, there has been a precarious unity government led by two old foes President Kiir and Machar.
The latter was accused of orchatrating an abortive coup in December 2013.
WN/as/APA