S Sudan army repels attack on Bentiu: Defense min.
Iran Press TV
Thu Oct 30, 2014 11:0AM GMT
South Sudanese forces have repelled an attack by rebels against the key northern oil hub town of Bentiu, the country's defense minister says.
Kuol Manyang said on Thursday that fierce fighting over the control of the city has left many casualties, adding that the town remains under the army control.
"We have a lot of wounded people we are trying to evacuate from Bentiu," Manyang said. "Bentiu is under control, there is calm now."
The rebel attack came after skirmishes outside the town earlier this week.
Bentiu has changed hands several times since the country's internal conflict broke out in December 2013. However, it has been in the hands of the government since May.
The 2013 fighting erupted between troops loyal to President Salva Kiir and defectors led by his former deputy Riek Machar around the capital Juba.
The conflict soon turned into an all-out war between the army and defectors, with the violence taking on an ethnic dimension that pitted the president's Dinka tribe against Machar's Nuer ethnic group.
The clashes have left thousands of South Sudanese dead and forced around 1.8 million people to flee homes in the world's youngest nation.
The widespread displacement has contributed to mass hunger and food shortages. Aid workers warn of famine if fighting continues.
YH/NN/KA
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
