EVENT SUMMARY
In the past few days, opposition army loyal to the former First Vice President of South Sudan Riek Machar has claimed to have battled the forces of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) in Juba.
SPLA through Brigadier General Lul Ruai Koang issued a statement on Tuesday 2nd August 2016 refuting claims of ongoing active combat with rival army in Juba.
Brigadier General Lul Ruai Koang, who speaks for the government forces downplayed that there was a major offensive over the weekend but admitted ‘small fighting’ between rival forces was witnessed saying SPLA-IO is using physiological warfare tactics to exaggerate the situation.
However the two factions continue to trade accusations; Koang accused the armed opposition forces of shelling the government military positions in Nasir town in Upper Nile while SPLA-IO accuse the government forces of attacking their positions on Sobat River.
