At least 115 people have died in violence between government forces and a rebel militia in Southern Sudan this week, an official said Sunday, raising concerns of southern instability ahead of the region's independence declaration in July.
Brigadier Malaak Ayuen, the head of the Southern Sudan's Army Information Department, said fighting on Saturday between a group of rebels led by Major General Gabriel Tanginye in Jonglei state and southern government forces led to 57 people being killed and scores being injured.
Ayuen said that five days of fighting between government forces and those loyal to another rebel chief, Peter Gatdet, in Unity state which is north-west of Jonglei, led to the deaths of 48 people. He did not give a breakdown of the number of civilians, rebels and the army killed in both incidents.
The fresh clashes between Tanginye's forces and the army erupted on Saturday morning in Kaldak village north of Jonglei state, where his forces have been assembled for reintegration into the Sudan People's Liberation Army, poised to become Southern Sudan's regular force in July. Tanginye said his base was attacked by the southern army.