By Tom Mugisha, tom.mugisha@alleastafrica.com
KAMPALA – Heavy fighting has erupted between South Sudanese army (SPLA) and the opposition forces of the SPLA-IO in Pagak area near the border with Ethiopia.
Quoted by Tamazuj Radio, Bol Ruach Rom, the government-appointed governor of Maiwut State, said the clashes occurred when SPLA-IO forces attacked government troops in their defensive positions on Monday morning.
“Yesterday morning around 6: 09 am, our forces came under heavy fire from the armed groups under Machar but they were repulsed back. They came from the eastern part of Pagak town,” he was quoted by Tamazuj
He said government forces had inflicted heavy losses on rebel forces. The fighting lasted for 18 minutes only.
One soldier was killed and two others wounded from their side during the clashes. However, Governor Bol said that calm has returned to the town of Pagak.
Rebel deputy spokesman Lam Paul Gabriel confirmed that clashes erupted on Monday morning in an attempt to regain Pagak.
