South Sudan army has re-taken the locality of Mankien, in Unity State that was briefly occupied by forces loyal to a stray army general who defected to Khartoum.
Fr. Stephen Ocir, the parish-priest of Mayom, told SCR News over the phone in a poor line from Bentiu, that yesterday the SPLA regained the control of Mankien after heavy fighting with rebels loyal to Peter Gadet and calm returned to the area.Fr. Ocir said the clashes between rebel and army forces stared on Tuesday and the insurgents’ drive towards Mayom was finally contained after the SPLA got extra troops on the ground.
Fr. Ocir said the rebels were commanded by two locally known men and Mr. Gadet was not seen in the area.
He added that the rebels were ten kilometres away from Mayom but now that they were driven back, he will return to the town to celebrate Easter with his parishioners.