The situation of civilians in Pibor County of Jonglei State is normal as the army is conducting operations to uproot David Yau Yau’s forces since Friday.
Pibor County Commissioner Joshua Konyi told CRN over the phone that the situation of civilians is good and they maintain a good relationship with the army.He said they told the civilians to be far from the military operations areas not to be caught in crossfire.
Mr Konyi said there were no civilians in the are where SPLA and rebels clashed.
He explained that the rebels were concentrated in Akelo on the Pachala-Pibor Road and the army crossed the Komkom stream, but did not yet advance to Kalbak.
Army spokesperson Colonel Philip Aguer Panyang confirmed that Yau Yau’s rebels have been clashing with SPLA soldiers for the last week.
He said the rebels ambushed the SPLA twice on Monday and Tuesday on Komkom and Raprap, but that army repelled the attacks and is now controlling both areas.
Col Aguer the army will try to clear Yau Yau’s forces out of Pibor County so that normal civil administration is resumed.
Col Aguer called on the civilians in Pibor to distance themselves from the areas occupied by rebel forces.