Calm returned to Waat in Nyirol County of Jonglei State on Wednesday after clashes between government forces and the opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO), local authorities said.
Northern Jonglei has witnessed intermittent fighting between the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) and SPLA-IO over control of key towns, displacing thousands of civilians and killing an unknown number of people.
Wilson Awuol Gajang, Jonglei State’s deputy governor, told Radio Tamazuj that the fighting began when SPLA-IO fighters attacked an SSPDF base in Waat, the headquarters of Nyirol County, early on Tuesday.
“The SPLA-IO forces, exploiting the ceasefire declared by the Chief of Defence Forces, had been mobilising in nearby Motot villages over the past two days before attacking the SSPDF base in Waat at around 4:30 a.m.,” he said.
“The attack was heavy, but our forces repulsed them by 5 a.m. and pursued them towards Motot. We also took control of Motot,” he added.
Gajang condemned the attack and said government forces suffered only minor casualties because soldiers were sheltered in trenches.
“It is unfortunate that the losses on the side of the attackers were massive, though we do not yet have the figures,” he said.
He urged residents to remain calm and said the situation in the state had stabilised.
“The entire state remains calm, except for Waat during the morning hours of the attack. There was no civilian displacement because our forces held their ground,” he said.
Gatluak Reat, a member of the Jonglei State Legislative Assembly, described the incident as a violation of the ceasefire agreement and confirmed that calm had been restored.
“Waat came under attack on Tuesday morning, but the attackers were immediately repulsed and driven out of Motot, which they had initially seized,” he said.
“As of Tuesday evening, residents had returned to their homes after the attack. There is calm now.”
Attempts to reach SPLA-IO officials in the area for comment were unsuccessful.
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