Bandits attack trucks in EES

The government of Eastern Equatoria State says transport between Juba and Nimule has returned to normality after bandits attacked trucks last night.

The Minister of Information in Eastern Equatoria State, Mark Akio acknowledged that two trucks were attacked between Kerepi and Moli areas at around 11:30 PM last night.

But Akio dismissed the statement by the opposition forces, calling it fabrications, and meant to cause panic amongst the people.

“Right now transport between Juba and Nimule is operating normally, and we have no knowledge of the opposition forces attacking government troops. There is nothing like that, we have people on the ground. The Pageri chief administrator is on the ground, he communicated this information this morning,” he said.

He says Eastern Equatoria is peaceful and those the attackers are bandits.

“So virtually what the opposition is saying is a fabrication, which we in Eastern Equatoria don’t agree with. In my opinion the opposition just would like to create panic amongst the people of Eastern Equatoria and South Sudan in general, which is intended to divert the attention towards Eastern Equatoria,” the Information Minister said.

The military spokesperson of the SPLA in Opposition, Brigadier-General Lul Ruai Koang, says in a press release that they have attacked government forces in Eastern Equatoria State.