JUBA: The South Sudan government has deployed forces to regain control of the strategic town of Bor, the capital of Jonglei State, which fell into the hands of rebel forces loyal to former deputy president Riek Machar a few days ago, it was reported on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, the government refused a key rebel demand for the release of 11 detained politicians after the two sides met briefly for the first time seeking to end fighting that has left the world’s newest state on the brink of civil war.
A spokesman for the rebels delegation, Yohanis Musa Pauk, said in Addis Ababa where the talks were held that the government was destroying the whole dialogue process.
On the other hand, in a statement the UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said that more than 23,000 South Sudanese refugees have fled to the neighboring Uganda.
The UN deputy spokesman further said that about 62,000 civilians were also taking refuge at the UN bases in the African country including nearly 30,000 at two bases in the capital Juba.
At least 1,100 people have been killed in South Sudan since the fighting broke out in on December 15, 2013 after the president Salva Kiir accused a group of disgruntled soldiers and politicians led by Riek Machar of attempting to overthrow the government in the capital Juba.
