Africa

Fighting continues over S Sudan key town of Bentiu

Fighting continues over S Sudan key town of Bentiu

Clashes rage on between South Sudanese government forces and rebels outside the key town of Bentiu with no end in sight to the deadly violence in the African country.

Army spokesman Philip Aguer on Thursday said troops loyal to President Salva Kiir were now close to Bentiu, the capital of Unity State, and that clashes were continuing.

The United Nations aid chief in the country, Toby Lanzer, described the town as in a state of chaos with shops looted and destroyed and aid agency vehicles being used by armed gangs.

Meanwhile, thousands of civilians have escaped the violence and more people are taking refuge at a UN base on outskirts Bentiu.

Bentiu is one of South Sudan’s main oil-producing areas and one of two northern towns captured by rebels loyal to former vice president, Riek Machar, soon after violence erupted in South Sudan in mid-December 2013.

The army spokesman also said government troops were battling rebel forces some 15 kilometers (nine miles) from Bor, which is the capital of Jonglei State and the only other major town in rebel hands.

On Wednesday, South Sudanese warring factions failed in their peace talks in Ethiopia following the government’s rejection of rebels’ calls to free prisoners accused of spearheading an alleged a coup attempt.

Rebel sources said there will be no imminent truce in the country unless the government frees a group of jailed politicians.

But President Kiir has rejected the condition, saying the prisoners will be released after the case goes through the country’s judicial system.

Less than three years after achieving independence from Sudan, South Sudan is threatened to become a failed state amid power struggle between President Kiir and Machar.

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