JUBA, South Sudan — South Sudan’s rebel forces have reclaimed their stronghold of Pagak, less than a week after being pushed out of the town by government forces, Col. Lam Paul Gabriel, deputy spokesman for the opposition IO, told the Associated Press.
“We have always warned the government not to underestimate the SPLA IO,” said Gabriel.
Gabriel said the government troops were pushed out of the town in northeastern South Sudan over the weekend and many of them have now crossed into Ethiopia where thousands of South Sudanese have already sought refuge from the ongoing clashes.
Since fighting erupted in South Sudan almost four years ago, Pagak has been headquarters of the opposition, led by former Vice-President Riek Machar, who’s currently in exile in South Africa.
Army spokesman Lul Ruai Koang wouldn’t confirm the reports, only saying that the army is maintaining its defensive position in the nearby town of Guelguok, roughly 150 kilometres (93 miles) northeast of Pagak.
“They’re still observing the unilateral ceasefire,” said Koang. Earlier this year, a unilateral ceasefire was declared by President Salva Kiir, but reports on the ground say it’s not being upheld.
“They (the government) attack and then they carry the message that they’re for peace,” said Sarah Nyanath Elijah, a local aid worker who fled Pagak to Ethiopia two weeks ago when fighting broke out. Elijah said she was one of roughly 50,000 people from the centre who ran for their lives when government forces started firing rockets from the nearby town of Maiwut.
She says the opposition’s recapture of Pagak is a “big hallelujah” for people like her, of the Nuer ethnic group, often said to be a target throughout the civil war by the largely Dinka government army. Elijah says when peace returns she’ll go back to Pagak.
However, experts say that the recapture of Pagak shows the conflict will continue.
“It’s becoming a vicious cycle,” said Jacob Chol, professor of comparative politics at the University of Juba and an expert in conflict analysis. “There’s no hope that this war will end soon.”
Newer articles:
- Today marks 1 million South Sudanese fleeing to Uganda - 17/08/2017 00:24
- Voices From the field: South Sudan Refugees Tell Their Story - 16/08/2017 13:54
- More urgency needed in quest for South Sudan peace – UN Refugee Chief - 16/08/2017 08:24
- South Sudan Refutes Rebels Retake of Pagak Town - 16/08/2017 06:55
- South Sudan refugees face long exile: UN's Grandi - 15/08/2017 12:02
Older news items
- South Sudan govt deny rebel recapture of key Ethiopia border town - 14/08/2017 12:51
- South Sudan lauds Kenyan poll outcome as strategic for its survival - 14/08/2017 08:24
- South Sudan Rebels Fight Back After Losing Headquarters - 12/08/2017 14:36
- Chiek: South Sudan's generation in crisis - 12/08/2017 07:49
- South Sudan rebels say have retaken Pagak town near border with Ethiopia - 11/08/2017 09:00
Latest news items (all categories):
- Hope for Christmas gift as South Sudan talks return to Nairobi - 05/12/2024 10:26
- Chinese medical team brings relief to South Sudan patients - 05/12/2024 10:18
- Sudanese bishop speaks about being brutalized by soldiers - 05/12/2024 10:08
- President Biden: Absent Principles - No Honoring Words - Broken Promises - 05/12/2024 09:55
- South Sudan’s ‘Game Of Thrones’ Continues – Analysis - 01/12/2024 17:47
Random articles (all categories):
- Fighting continues in South Sudan as political rivals begin talks - 08/04/2014 09:41
- 13 dead in tribal revenge attacks in S.Sudan: government - 15/01/2012 20:25
- South Sudan: The stark choices facing displaced people in Aburoc - 20/02/2018 01:14
- MSF: Malaria, malnutrition rise among South Sudanese returnees in Renk requires stronger medical response - 04/10/2023 06:24
- Peacekeepers cannot protect civilians in South Sudan's east: U.N - 27/05/2013 07:49
Popular articles:
- Who is the darkest person in the world, according to Guinness World Record? - 25/10/2022 02:34 - Read 58638 times
- No oil in troubled waters - 25/03/2014 15:02 - Read 22221 times
- School exam results in South Sudan show decline - 01/04/2012 17:58 - Read 21370 times
- NDSU student from South Sudan receives scholarship - In-Forum - 29/09/2012 01:44 - Read 18901 times
- Top 10 weakest currency exchange rates in Africa in 2023 - 19/07/2023 00:24 - Read 18050 times