The SPLA confirmed the death of 11 civilians during a rebel attack on Mayom, Unity State, on Saturday.
Col. Phillip Aguer Panyang, the army spokesperson, said today that the rebel group had at least 400 elements that killed 11 civilians, including the only medical doctor in Mayom and the wife of General Paulino Matip.He added that Ruakdag Gatwech, who led the rebel attack, was also killed in the battle.
Fifty seven people died in the battle, including 32 rebels, 10 soldiers four, police officers and 11 civilians.
Mr. Aguer said Mr. Gatwech was under the orders of Major General Bapiny Monytuel, a member of the South Sudan Liberation Movement (SSLM), a rebel group supported by the Khartoum government.
The attack come after the SSLM issued a warning to UN and NGO agencies to leave Unity state before they launched attacks against the rule of Governor Taban Deng.
Mr. Aguer dismissed claims that the rebels captured Mayom.
He said the battle lasted for one hour and the town is under SPLA’s control.
The SSLM force is made up of soldiers formerly led by Peter Gadet, who accepted the amnesty offered by President Salva Kiir.
The group has issued a similar warning to agencies operating in Warrap state: they were told to leave before SSLM attacks Kwajok.