S. Sudan army lays barricade around rebel headquarters

[Elisabeth Janaina]

S. Sudan army lays barricade around rebel headquarters

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Sudan People's Liberation Army soldiers walk along a road near Bor, on
January 31, 2014 (AFP Photo)
July 16, 2017 (JUBA) – The South Sudanese army (SPLA) in collaboration
with the armed opposition faction fighters in the coalition government
have reportedly laid a siege around the headquarters of rebels loyal
to former First Vice-President, Riek Machar.

A senior government military officer said pro-government forces have
laid a siege around the stronghold of troops allied to the exiled
rebel leader.

“The rebels are in weak position. They have no logistics and so our
forces decided to siege Pagak so that civilians could find an escaping
route to refugee camps in Gambella, Ethiopia,” the officer, who spoke
to Sudan Tribune on condition of anonymity, disclosed on Sunday.

“So Pagak, as I am talking to you, is lockdown. Our forces are
collaborating with SPLA-IO [armed opposition faction] peace wing under
General Taban Deng Gai in battling anti-peace elements that have
rejected the call for national dialogue”, he added.

Multiple sources claimed SPLA troops were few kilometres away from
Pagak, a rebel base on the border of South Sudan and Ethiopia.

Pro-government forces have allegedly seized several weapons from
Machar’s fighters after a series of gun battles on the way to Pagak.

Aid workers have also confirmed the clashes around Pagak, forcing some
of them to flee to Gambella in Ethiopia after the town came under
sustained air and ground attacks from the government forces.

About 5,000 civilians, the United Nations said, have fled their homes in Pagak.

The head of the U.N mission in South Sudan, David Shearer said last
week that thousands of South Sudanese civilians were fleeing to
neighbouring Ethiopia as government troops advanced towards Pagak,
expressing grave concern about the growing refugee crisis.

“At least 25 aid workers have been forced to relocate from Pagak and
surrounding areas due to increased insecurity,” said Shearer.

Stressing there was no military solution to the South Sudan conflict,
the U.N official called upon the two warring factions to stop the
fighting.

“It’s unacceptable that 250 innocent children, and the people who care
for them, find themselves in no man’s land between the warring
parties,” Shearer told reporters in the South Sudan capital, Juba.

The South Sudanese conflict started in mid-December 2013 when
President Salva Kiir accused Machar of a coup attempt. Since then,
tens of thousands of people have died and over 2 million have been
displaced.

(ST)

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16 July 21:52, by Sunday Junup

How come you claim Pagak while still confined in Luakjak Yom
county? Please it is a long way for you to reach Pagak. Even if you
reach Pagak, Dr.Riak can still relocate headquarter.

repondre message
17 July 09:13, by Mi diit

Pagak is safe...Even if you would reach it, it wouldn’t stop the war.
You guys can win a battle but not the war.

repondre message
16 July 21:52, by Marco A. Wek

What will we gain in killing ourselves? When are we going to be
sensible and realize we are driving ourselves to he’ll? Did we break
away from North Sudan for this cycle of killing?

repondre message
16 July 22:52, by Freedom Fighter

The Army has national obligation to fight, kill , and arrest
criminals who are currently taking civilians hostage in Pagak. Please
try to minimize civilian’s causalities

Freedom Fighter

repondre message
17 July 15:04, by Resolution

Dear freedom fighter,
you are saying The Army has national obligation to fight,
kill , and arrest criminals who are currently taking civilians hostage
in Pagak. do you really have sense of analysing the situation we are
in now in our country S.Sudan for you to post that statement above
while we have 2million are dearly need of food assistance in the
region of our president.

repondre message
17 July 15:57, by Resolution

On 6 July, the province of Terkeka, located north of
the capital, reported the deaths of at least 33 people due to famine
in the last two months. plus 13 people also lost their lives of hunger
from Bhar-elagazal region yet your regime is pushing for senseless war
that confirmed to everyone that government use starvation as a tool of
war against it citizens.

repondre message
16 July 23:32, by Nairobimitot

The SPLA is going to make Pagak the headquarter shortly, the
rebels who are inside Pagak have to listen so that they come up with
good break solution to the problem. Can somebody tell those rebels
leaders in Pagak that Riek Machar is gone far away? There is another
Riek Machar in Juba, and his name is Tabal Deng Gai and President
Salva Kiir Mayardit and Dr. Wani Igga. What is wrong with this slow
thinker called rebels? My message to the rebels, do not hold civilians
hostage, even if you do, SPLA will get you, the same SPLA of Naath
William Nyuon. If you are from Naath, Gajaak, you need to remember
that it is the same SPLA during William Nyuon Bany. Do not forget
that; the governor of Pagak that is appointed by the President Kiir
Mayardit is there in the field, there is no fear, he is there to get
to work and make your life better. Accept him, and you will recognize
the country like South Sudan not as Nuer and Riek Machar. Riek Machar
is from Bentiu, not Pagak, Pagak belongs to Gajaak Nuer. Do not let
Riek Machar commanders who are in Pagak to use you. Bentiu is under
the government, now and not under Riek Machar. Do not let your
children Die because of Riek Machar who is Teny. Teny is evil and who
do not know that evil deeds. Come to the new government and get
positions, and if you are not sure, positions are jobs. You have to
work to live; you cannot just kill and eat civilians goats and cows
because you are rebels. If you do that, then, what is your vision for
the civilians and the South Sudan. When you become a rebel, you become
addicted to it, but the government is going to help you and change
your life to become Good citizens of South Sudan who can help and
contribute to the development of the country.

repondre message
17 July 08:34, by Malakal county Simon

Nairobimitot

What’s good about rejected president Kiir?? Killings Nuers
people’s in Juba for no apparent reason?? Tells Your God-father to
step-down and stop boring us with this nonsense against people’s
leader Dr machar..

repondre message
16 July 22:30, by Kush Natives

We will still have wait for those of Midiit and John locke to
bring us an accurate results from Pagak, since they’re already in
Pagak. I said this yesterday that, the safest way for the rebels
elements based in Pagak is to surrender, as some fools will take it a
shame, but for me, it’s a life saving. If Pagak is besieged, then
what’s up with the rebels now. Is it that the dialogue you bandits
want

repondre message
16 July 22:35, by Kush Natives

My message is to Gajak villages who reside around Pagak area,
leave the area ASAP! The government don’t need you, they only need the
rebels. Move to Teargol.

repondre message
16 July 23:00, by Theone

This senseless fighting and killing should have been avoided if
Riek Machar waited for elections to be elected as "president"

But since Riek want presidency and Khartoum money,he prefers
Khartoum bloody money,he does not care the suffering of the Nuer tribe
and will never care, trust me,I know him very well.

Riek,Lam,kual Manyang and late John Garang don’t care about people
of South Sudan.

repondre message
16 July 23:21, by Newsudan

Pagak must fall to SPLA.
the govt agendas
1.To built highway BTW Ethiopia n South Sudan
2.free flows of goods.
3.To opened up market for Paloic oil to international.

repondre message
16 July 23:17, by john akeen

Nice news, now civilians you have hurt what government had said,
you must find away to get out from those Rebels areas as soon as
possible or else, don’t belam government later on. Leave Pagak
immediately to safety place we are coming in to copter those criminals
with their commanders soon, so now you got a chance to leave. How to
you fight for someone who is in prison if you are not>

repondre message
16 July 23:20, by john akeen

criminal?

repondre message
16 July 23:40, by Nairobimitot

Here is a good News, a huge Highway is going to be built from
Djibouti to Gambella, from Gambella to Pagak and then to Paloch. If
you are from Pagak, you will be the first person to witness the
development. Stop fighting your government who will tomorrow help you
and pick you up.

repondre message
17 July 00:33, by Deng II

LOL! "a huge Highway is going to be built from Djibouti to
Gambella, from Gambella to Pagak and then to Paloch."

The most dangerous enemy of South Sudan people is an evil
corruption. We don’t need to kidding ourselves that the current
Government will do a good things like "a Huge Highway", nothing will
happened. let hope for God rather than the current Government.

repondre message
17 July 01:21, by john locke

Nairobi, what you just said is funny.. for one, kiirs troops are
nowhere near pagak. Knfact they where chased away along with the
governer who was wounded in that fighting. 72 troops where killed, 103
troops defected to the IO. Civilians have been coming to pagak for
protection because they trust us ro protect them. Not kiirs tribal
fsiled army. They are stuck in the ditches. You jiangs will never
touch nuer land. Believe me. Even with your nuerwew. Keep trying. The
country collapsed because of you jiangs.

repondre message
17 July 02:31, by Nairobimitot

John Lock
The governor was wounded and got shot in the left, the left
buttocks. So, why shot him in the buttocks when he is only trying his
best to save your State from Riek Machar? He is now going to go too
Pagak by force because you have shot him in his buttock. He is not
happy about you.

repondre message
17 July 01:23, by john locke

And for those of you who blame this war on us IO. Remember what
kiir did to start this war, which was kill our people in Juba. Than
tried twice to assinate riek machar. Now tou called a cease fire while
at the sametime trying to overrun pagak. You jiangs are great liars.
Yet youve failed in the failed. Touve fought us for 3 years now and
still can not defeat us without your paid mercenaries

repondre message
17 July 01:48, by john locke

Kiirs government is great at whote lies and propaganda. Their
troops are stuck in luakjak,yet are still claiming to have surrounded
pagak. That is very funny. Even as well armed as they are 72 of them
have been killed and the governer wounded. Uet they claim that they
will capture pagak. A country ruled by a liar is a broken country

repondre message
17 July 02:19, by Nairobimitot

John Locke
Civilians have the right to take shelter according to whom
they feel will protect them. The civilians chose to go to Pagak where
the rebels are stationed because the civilians are Nuer and the rebels
are Nuer. The civilians trust Nuer soldiers more than the few Nuer
soldiers who are in the government. Here is a catch, the government
has been the rebirth. It is not the same government of 2013; it is a
new administration as we speak. The government has the duty to protect
the civilians and to protect the country from any aggression from the
rebels. The Pagak, which you are now trying to protect as a rebel,
will fall to the government in coming weeks and the civilians will
return to their land including yourself. If you are a rebel, you need
to listen now before it is too late.

repondre message
17 July 02:28, by john akeen

John locke

how many time do I have to tell you that you need to stop
complaining? And also I see that you like to imagine things, so please
ama need you to stop smoking weed. Ok

repondre message
17 July 02:36, by john locke

The government never changed, it is still the same style of
government since 2013. The only difference is that kiir has a new
yes-man as a vice president in taban. A man who will kill his own
people to please kiir for a position. Your kiir soldiers will never
make it to pagak. Dont let this news articles fool you. Youre troops
are stuck in the trenches at luakjak. The rest either died or ran

repondre message
17 July 02:38, by john locke

Youre spla paid the sudanese rebels to attack us, yet we still
defeat them. Not all nuer are nuerwew who will kill their own people.
Stop with the fake news of beimg close to pagak when in reality youre
troops are in luakjak. Very far. Worry about your wounded governor who
ran to the forest after a fierce fire fight with the gallant io forces

repondre message
17 July 04:47, by Nairobimitot

John Locke, what you represent is nothing. The government is
powerful than the rebels. You will see the government soldiers in one
month in Pagak, walking around.

repondre message
17 July 04:48, by Nairobimitot

John Locke, what you represent is nothing. The government is
powerful than the rebels. You will see the government soldiers in one
month in Pagak, walking around.

repondre message
17 July 05:12, by john locke

If the government is so powerful than why have they yet to beat us
rebels? Why do they need the sudanese rebels help and the updf? If
youre government is so powerful why have you yet to take pagak and
lost at luakjak where you are stuck? The government lost

repondre message
17 July 05:36, by Nairobimitot

John Locke, everything takes time. Riek Machar was vice
president, and he is now in South Africa under house arrest. The
government started from scratch, and it is now growing and still very
powerful. In the next few weeks, you will see the Government in Pagak.
About a year or two you will come to your sense and join the federal
building with us in the government here in Juba.

repondre message
17 July 05:47, by john locke

I would never join a government that planned and massacred my
fellow nuer in juba in 2013. Nor would i ever join a government ran by
the JCE who kill other non dinka. Never. The jiang will one day regret
what they did in 2013 and what they continue to do. Because of jiangs
the country is broke and divided based on tribes. What have the jiang
achieved since independence?

repondre message
17 July 06:41, by Dak tak

It seems the failed and incompetent Salva Kiir put all his
attentions of reaching Pagak taking the temporarily lack of logistical
support for the rebel that will soon be corrected. The sycophants and
Dinka may celebrate reaching Pagak and that to others doesn’t mean the
war is over. Until when is taking the town become winning the war? The
only illusion of salva Kiir and the dinka council of elder

repondre message
17 July 08:54, by Ater

Dak,
well stated,war will not end even if Pagak was to come under
goverment control,War will continue as long as there are few mad army
generals under command of their foolish Riek are committed to fool us
around of millitary capability.It is so painful Riek with secret
agenda to use section of Nuer to fight his useless war.Nuer elders to
convince their youth not to fight the goverment.

repondre message
17 July 09:16, by Ater

continue-
Goverment is complex system that need minds of all tribes
and not single tribe or few tribes to dismantle.Dont deceive yourself
Dak Tak Riek will win this war.As we are talking there is intensive
training in all goverment control areas to wipe out rebellions in the
country.And to my surprises the recruits are not only Dinkas but all
tribes and Riek is busy training his only tribes.

repondre message
17 July 06:46, by Dak tak

Of winning the war militarily will never happened, you may have an
advantage today over your enemy, but not everyday. The only solution
is to accept peace, talk with Dr Riek Machar and end the cycle of war,
otherwise your intension to continue with senseless war will end salva
Kiir failed regime like that of Algadaffi.

repondre message
17 July 08:30, by Malakal county Simon

Listen all!!

Even if Pagak is capture by a pro-government, still won’t end
the war.... Only failed president Kiir stepping down can end the
imposed war as the majority of South Sudanese hate him to death and i
hope God will take him soon for the country to normalcy!!!!

repondre message
17 July 09:18, by Mike Charlie MC

You are laughter’s today pussy news , tomorrow remained on blamed
,,, I believed the SPLA IO gallant will do same as Walgak Lesson .

repondre message
17 July 09:47, by Good Foe

Everyone should believe me. South Sudanese will never see peace in
the near future if the leader hail from the ethnicity:DINKA or NUER.
Do you remember what Makuei said in Nairobi: "The idea of regime
change can’t work. If they continue to support it, our jungles are
still there."

Continue Killing each other. You will regret.

repondre message
17 July 13:56, by pikka

Dear brothers who are making commend here should washout in the
way they commend haha.

please know that God is washing you all the time. let us try to be
one both in heart and in thinking as we are from one nation

repondre message
17 July 14:44, by DINKA DOMINANCE SPLA/M

Guns will be silence soon and every citizens will live peaceful.
Riek is gone to the dog.