South Sudan Dismisses Reports That Rebels Seized Malakal Town
South Sudanese government on Friday denied reports that forces loyal to Dr. Reik Machar have seized Malakal, the capital of Upper Nile State. 27 December 2013 Kuol Manyang Juuk, the South Sudanese Defense Minister insists his forces are still in control of Malakal despite rebels claims, dismissing all other media reports. [File] Gurtong. JUBA, 27 December 2013 [Gurtong] – Kuol Manyang Juuk, the South Sudanese Defense Minister insists his forces are still in control of Malakal despite rebels claims, dismissing all other media reports. “The elements of Riek [Machar]…were defeated and they are no any longer there in Malakal,” Kuol told Gurtong on Friday, saying SPLA forces are being reinforced to expand its control in the state. Fighting in Malakal erupted since December 23, 2013 after forces loyal to Riek Machar rebelled. Though Moses Ruai Lat, the official Spokesman of the Unity State Military Interim government under Riek Machar’s governance exclusively t