South Sudan government admitted that its forces launched offensives to take control of Pagak, a stronghold of rebels loyal to former First Vice-President Riek Machar.
The presidential adviser on military affairs, Daniel Awet Akot said Thursday that the move resulted from the rebels’ failure to observe the declared ceasefire.
“What can one do when the other side does not reciprocate the good gesture and the will to end the conflict? There are people who continue to advocate war. They have refused dialogue and refused to observe ceasefire,” Akot told Sudan Tribune.
He added, “They [rebels] did not declare ceasefire, instead what they are doing is attacking civilians and holding them hostage and using them as their bargaining card”.