Clashes erupt in Pagak as rebels battle to retake main stronghold

[Elisabeth Janaina]

Clashes erupt in Pagak as rebels battle to retake main stronghold

Clashes erupted Friday morning between government and opposition
troops in Pagak as rebel fighters attempted to retake their main
headquarters, which was seized by government forces last week.

Rebel deputy spokesman Lam Paul Gabriel told Radio Tamazuj this
afternoon that heavy clashes rocked Pagak this morning as their troops
launched a surprise assault on government forces in order to regain
their main headquarters.

“We attacked the area in the morning and clashes are still ongoing.
The government forces are withdrawing from Pagak,” he said.

Bol Ruach Rom, a government-appointed governor of Maiwut state,
confirmed that their forces came under attack by the opposition in
Pagak town early morning.

“They returned back again and attacked us around 12:00 pm but we
repulsed them. We are now in Pagak town,” he said.

The government official pointed out that five rebel soldiers were
killed during the clashes while four soldiers were wounded from their
side.