South Sudanese rebels have confirmed that a base commander said to be very close to Rebel leader Riek Machar was killed during clashes with government forces in Yei River State earlier in the week.
The rebels confirmed that the slain commander was Felix Likambu Faustino, the SPLA-IO base commander for Yankonye village. The government has denied the claims saying that splinter groups with the ranks of rebels have been responsible for recent attacks as they try to assert their legitimacy.
According to the government spokesman, there was no engagement between SPLA forces and different rebel groups. The reports we have been getting for the last three days indicated that the rebel groups loyal to [Thomas] Cirilo and Riek Machar have been fighting among themselves.
There is an existing ceasefire between the government forces and the rebels as both leaders work out a lasting solution. Rebels led by Riek Machar have stirred fighting in the world’s youngest nation.
