S.Sudan rebel leader vows to fight on after losing key town

January 10, 2014

South Sudan rebel leader Riek Machar confirmed Friday that rebel forces had lost control of the key northern oil town of Bentiu, but vowed his fighters would continue their battle against the government.

“We withdrew from Bentiu, but it was to avoid fighting in the streets and save civilian lives. We fight on, we will continue the battle,” Machar told AFP by satellite telephone from an undisclosed location in the country.

He nevertheless said the rebel side would remain engaged in peace talks that are taking place in neighbouring Ethiopia.

“Yes, we are committed,” he said, without giving any indication if he was willing to agree to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire.

Speaking to reporters in Addis Ababa, a rebel military spokesman described the loss of Bentiu as a “temporary setback”.

“Our forces made a tactical withdrawal to avoid civilian casualties,” Lul Ruai Koang said.

“The government does not have the capacity to defeat us militarily,” he added, accusing the South Sudanese government of “bringing in mercenaries” from neighbouring Uganda and the Darfur region of Sudan.

He also said rebels still controlled Unity State’s oil infrastructure outside of Bentiu.