The clashes erupted on Wednesday morning in the flood-prone area of Kuerlatjor, with both sides giving differing accounts of the timing of the confrontation.
Lt. Col. Chuol Puot Dual Diu, Deputy Spokesperson of the SPLA-IO General Headquarters, told Sudans Post that government forces launched an attack on their positions using about 30 local canoe boats from Bentiu town.
“Our gallant forces of Division 4A, Brigade Two, Jamus Battalion, together with the Koch County Commissioner’s headquarters guard, managed to repulse the attack,” Puot said.
He claimed that SPLA-IO forces inflicted heavy casualties on the SSPDF during the fighting.
According to Puot, 49 SSPDF soldiers were left dead on the ground, including eight officers. Among those he named were Brig. Gen. Kuol Kiir, described as the commander of the mission; Col. Koang Kuany, the deputy commander of the mission; and Lt. Col. Pal Khan, whom he identified as the military intelligence chief for the operation. He also said three majors and two first lieutenants were among the dead.
Puot further alleged that 37 wounded SSPDF officers and soldiers who escaped the fighting later arrived at Bentiu Hospital for treatment. He added that one SSPDF soldier was captured alive and is currently being held by SPLA-IO forces.
The opposition spokesperson said his forces also seized military equipment during the confrontation, including three RPG-7 launchers, six PKM light machine guns, 15 AK-47 rifles, and assorted ammunition. He maintained that SPLA-IO suffered two fatalities and one injury during the clash.
The SPLA-IO General Headquarters, under Acting Chief of General Staff Lt. Gen. Peter Thuok Chuol Luak, congratulated Brigade Two, Jamus Battalion, and allied county forces for what it described as successfully repelling the attack.
Meanwhile, Guit County Commissioner Simon Lieliey confirmed that fighting took place in Kuerlatjor on Wednesday. However, he said he could not immediately verify the number of casualties on the government side.
“The fighting erupted between SPLA-IO and SSPDF forces,” the commissioner said, noting that the area remains flooded, making access and independent verification difficult.
The incident underscores ongoing tensions between rival forces in parts of Unity State, despite the broader peace framework intended to unify armed groups under a single national command.
