Anti-government forces in South Sudan are alleging they have
retaken the key city of Malakal, in Upper Nile State.
Sudan People’s Liberation Army-In Opposition spokesman James
Gadet claims a joint force of SPLA-IO soldiers and ethnic Shilluk militia
retook Malakal late Saturday night.
The capital of Upper Nile state was already depopulated and
mostly destroyed but is strategic because it lies en route to the oil-producing
Paloich area in Melut County, which is South Sudan’s last operational oil field
and only source of income for the central government.
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| Malakal (seen above) has changed hands between SPLA & SPLA-IO forces several times |
Government forces are yet to comment on the development.