Clashes erupted in the early hours of Monday in Pigi County, Jonglei State, after opposition SPLA-IO forces launched an assault on a government military position, according to a local authority.

Pigi County Commissioner Suleiman Deng told South Sudanese local broadcaster Radio Tamazuj that the fighting began at about 3 a.m. in Mat Boma, located in Wunlith Payam, when troops from the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) were attacked.

Deng said the SPLA-IO carried out a coordinated and intense attack on the SSPDF base, but government forces managed to push back the assailants, forcing them to withdraw toward Ayok village in Khorwai Payam.

He added that the confrontation lasted roughly one hour and resulted in injuries to two SSPDF soldiers. Deng noted that he could not confirm whether the opposition forces suffered any casualties.

According to the commissioner, security conditions in the county have since stabilized.

Pigi County is situated in the northern part of Jonglei State, where the Sobat and Nile rivers meet, just south of the town of Malakal.

Attempts to obtain comment from the SPLA-IO leadership in Pigi County were unsuccessful. However, Lt. Col. Khor Nyang Mabor, spokesperson for the SPLA-IO’s 3rd Infantry Division headquartered in neighboring Nyirol County, said he was unaware of the reported fighting and had not received any information linking SPLA-IO forces to the incident.

Jonglei State continues to experience heightened tensions following recent confrontations between government and opposition forces in Uror and Duk counties.