SPLA expressed confidence of maintaining Malakal under government after recapture due to deployment of reliable forces from Divisions Six, Three and Seven from Western Equatoria, Northern Bahr El Ghazal and Upper Nile States.
Army spokesman Colonel Philip Aguer told press on Thursday that SPLA would most likely retain Malakal and re-organize to go beyond in pursuing opposition forces.
He explained that Malakal exchanged control for several times from government and opposition forces because of its vulnerable location making consistent reinforcement very difficult.
Colonel Aguer added that there was division among previous SPLA forces deployed to Malakal as some of them were recruited by the opposition leader Dr Riek Machar Teny.
Colonel Aguer said fighting took place on Wednesday at 4:30 PM in Malakal and that fighters were still battling at surrounding areas of Dores heading to Khorflus three kilometres north of Malakal Airport.
He added that he did not receive any report of causalities, adding that the general security situation in the country was calm.