Fighting continues in South Sudan, and it appears that the government is losing ground.
South Sudan rebels have captured Akako town, close to the country’s only functional oil fields, rebels and aid officials said Monday
Both the rebels and aid officials said the town fell to rebels on Monday. This is the second major loss of strategic territory to rebel fighters within days.
Forces loyal to President Salva Kiir have been battling troops supporting Rebel leader Riek Machar.
The conflict has been raging for months, with little progress made at the negotiating table. The international community has raised fresh worry over the fighting.
There is a great concern that President Kiir’s government has been weakened by nearly two years of civil war – to such and extent that it can no longer defend the oil-producing areas in the country.
More than 50,000 people have died in the conflict, and nearly two million others remain displaced.
The conflict in South Sudan erupted in December 2013, triggered by a dispute between President Kiir and his former vice president. It has since divided the country along ethnic lines, pitting President Kiir’s Dinka community against Vice President Riek Machar’s Nuer tribesmen.
