Government-allied militia launches fresh attack against SPLA-IO near Bentiu

JUBA – A government-allied militia force in South Sudan’s oil-rich Unity state has launched a fresh attack against the main armed opposition group, SPLA-IO, at Nhialdiu, a Bentiu suburb that is just less than 30 kilometers from the state capital, according to several eyewitnesses.

According to locals in Nhialdiu, the fighting began yesterday at dawn when General Koang Nyagany who previously defected from Malong to the government launched a surprise attack against the SPLA-IO position at a village near Nhialdiu.

The locals said the attack resulted in the killing of one person and the wounding of another saying two others who were all civilians were captured and are being detained at the SSPDF military headquarters in Rubkona as one person is still missing.

“Forces that are formerly belonging to South Sudan United Front and who are now part of South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) attacked a SPLA-IO base yesterday killing one and wounded one other,” the eyewitness said on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal.

“The attack was launched by under the command of General Koang Nyagany. They have also captured two people and are detaining them in the SSPDF’s general headquarters in Bentiu. One person is still missing,” he added.