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South Sudanese Rebels Clash With Government Soldiers in Town Near Ethiopian Border South Sudanese Rebels Clash With Government Soldiers in Town Near Ethiopian Border
(about 1 month later)
JUBA, South Sudan — South Sudanese rebels and government soldiers clashed in the northern town of Nasir on Sunday, adding to fears that a shaky cease-fire agreement signed in May could collapse. JUBA, South Sudan — South Sudanese rebels and government soldiers clashed in the northern town of Nasir on Sunday, adding to fears that a shaky cease-fire agreement signed in May could collapse.
A rebel spokesman, Lul Ruai Koang, said troops loyal to Riek Machar, South Sudan’s former vice president, launched an assault on the government-held town and, “at dawn, liberated Nasir.”A rebel spokesman, Lul Ruai Koang, said troops loyal to Riek Machar, South Sudan’s former vice president, launched an assault on the government-held town and, “at dawn, liberated Nasir.”
Philip Aguer, a South Sudan Army spokesman, confirmed there was fighting but said the rebels were not in full control of Nasir, a small town less than 20 miles from the Ethiopian border in the oil-rich Upper Nile State.Philip Aguer, a South Sudan Army spokesman, confirmed there was fighting but said the rebels were not in full control of Nasir, a small town less than 20 miles from the Ethiopian border in the oil-rich Upper Nile State.
“The rebels have been shelling Nasir since last night, and this morning at 6 a.m. they launched a ground attack,” he said. “There is still fighting in Nasir, but the rebels don’t control Nasir.”“The rebels have been shelling Nasir since last night, and this morning at 6 a.m. they launched a ground attack,” he said. “There is still fighting in Nasir, but the rebels don’t control Nasir.”
The town has changed hands several times since fighting broke out in the capital, Juba, in mid-December between soldiers loyal to President Salva Kiir and troops backing Mr. Machar, and quickly spread across the country. The violence, set off by a power struggle between the two men, has often followed ethnic fault lines, pitting Mr. Kiir’s Dinka ethnic group against Mr. Machar’s Nuer.The town has changed hands several times since fighting broke out in the capital, Juba, in mid-December between soldiers loyal to President Salva Kiir and troops backing Mr. Machar, and quickly spread across the country. The violence, set off by a power struggle between the two men, has often followed ethnic fault lines, pitting Mr. Kiir’s Dinka ethnic group against Mr. Machar’s Nuer.
The European Union and the United States have imposed sanctions on commanders from both sides for violating a cease-fire that was signed in January but that swiftly crumbled.The European Union and the United States have imposed sanctions on commanders from both sides for violating a cease-fire that was signed in January but that swiftly crumbled.
Fighting in Nasir followed skirmishes last week between rebels and government troops in Unity State, an oil-rich region where the violence has forced a shutdown in production.Fighting in Nasir followed skirmishes last week between rebels and government troops in Unity State, an oil-rich region where the violence has forced a shutdown in production.
The attack on Nasir is the biggest threat so far to the shaky cease-fire signed on May 9. Each side has repeatedly accused the other of violations. “This morning’s attack by the rebels of Riek Machar might put the cease-fire to an end,” Mr. Aguer said.The attack on Nasir is the biggest threat so far to the shaky cease-fire signed on May 9. Each side has repeatedly accused the other of violations. “This morning’s attack by the rebels of Riek Machar might put the cease-fire to an end,” Mr. Aguer said.
Thousands of civilians have been killed and more than a million forced to flee their homes since December, prompting United Nations warnings of a famine in some parts of the country, which declared independence from Sudan in 2011.Thousands of civilians have been killed and more than a million forced to flee their homes since December, prompting United Nations warnings of a famine in some parts of the country, which declared independence from Sudan in 2011.
Oil output, South Sudan’s economic lifeblood, has been cut by a third, to about 165,000 barrels per day, since fighting began.Oil output, South Sudan’s economic lifeblood, has been cut by a third, to about 165,000 barrels per day, since fighting began.