South Sudan army says it killed 16 rebel fighters

By Parach Mach

JUBA, South Sudan (AA) - A clash between South Sudanese government troops and rival rebel forces loyal to former exiled Vice President Riek Machar has left sixteen opposition fighters dead, the army deputy spokesman said Wednesday.

The clash happened Tuesday night in the country’s southeastern town of Parjok, near Magwi along Uganda border, Brig. Gen. Santo Dominic told Anadolu Agency.

"The army killed 16 bandits who are loyal to SPLM-IO led by Riek Machar. They attacked the town of Parjok and went on rampage, looting civilians," he added. "The opposition has been attacking our positions despite cessation of hostilities."

Lam Paul Gabriel, deputy spokesman for the rebel SPLM-IO, said it was the government forces who attacked their position and "killed civilians".

"The army attacked our position in Parjok, and other places controlled by SPLM-IO. After they failed to overrun our position, they ended up killing civilians,” Paul told Anadolu Agency.

Dominic has denied the claims, calling it "negative propaganda".

"The army is constitutionally mandated to protect civilians. The army does not kill or loot civilians' property," he said.

South Sudan, the world's youngest nation, has been grappling with violence and civil war since its inception in 2013.

The country fell into chaos in 2013 when a power struggle in the country’s ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) between President Salva Kiir and his sacked deputy Riek Machar turned violent after Kiir accused Machar of attempting a coup, resulting in bitter fighting along ethnic lines.

Last April Machar was sworn in as first vice-president after the formation of a unity government, but he fled in July after renewed fighting between Kiir loyalists and his own faction.

The conflict, which is in its fourth year, has claimed tens of thousands of lives and forced nearly 3 million people to flee their homes.