The Government said on Thursday that it was going to contain the fighting in Pibor County of Jonglei State after the army captured the airstrip being used by David Yau Yau to get weapons from abroad.
Spokesperson Barnaba Marial Benjamin answering to a CRN question said the enemies were encouraging Yau Yau’s rebellion to destabilize Jonglei State and disrupt plans to build a pipeline and start oil exploration in the area.He said the enemies do not want South Sudan to benefit from the oil French Total oil company was contracted to explore and boost the economy.
He added that it was the Government’s duty to keep law and order including in Pibor County.
Dr Marial said on Wednesday the SPLA took control of the airstrip through which Yau Yau’s rebels were getting weapons from an enemy he did not name.
The spokesperson added that government was fighting a rebellion in Pibor County that was armed by a foreign country.
Army spokesperson Philip Aguer Panyang told CRN over the phone that in the battle for the key airstrip the SPLA lost 20 soldiers and the 100 rebels.