Posted Christmas Day 25th December 2013
Witness accounts confirmed that heavy fighting continued up until 9:45 this morning in Malakal, the capital of Upper Nile State.
The main fighting occurred near the airport.
The fighting is between rival factions of SPLA Division 7; one side loyal to President Kiir and the other side loyal to former Vice President Riak Machar.
Although Machar’s forces are said to be in control of Malakal, more fighting is expected.
A military source loyal to President Kiir says Malakal is not fully controlled by Machar’s forces but admitted there had been heavy fighting.
Much of Upper Nile State is now aligned with Machar’s forces; however, the oil field of Palouch has not yet fallen.
Palouch and nearby Melut are Dinka speaking areas surrounded by Nuer and Shiluk tribal strongholds.
A source close to Machar said this morning that Nuer youths, known as the White Army, are on their way to the area with the intention of taking over the oil field in support of Machar’s forces.
The source also says that Governor Simon Kun Puoch is no longer in the UNMISS compound in Malakal but has instead fled to Palouch.
In Jonglei state, sources aligned with Machar’s forces disputed government claims that Bor was now completely back in control by SPLA forces loyal to Kiir.
The source alleged that they had captured four Ugandan soldiers in Bor and that more fighting should be expected in Bor town this afternoon.