The Dr. Riek Machar rebels fighting against the dictatorial government of Saliva Kiir in South Sudan on Monday raided Malakal, capital of the main oil-producing Upper Nile region in the north of the deeply impoverished and chaotic South Sudan. The rebels repulsed UPDF soldiers and Salva Kiir’s soldiers.

The control of Malakal was on Monday in the hands of the rebels since the soldiers loyal to Salva Kiir and president Museveni of Uganda were raided and dozens of soldiers killed. The South Sudan army spokesman, Philip Aguer says it is just a matter of time before the government army retakes Malakal from the rebels.

A source in South Sudan’s petroleum ministry told journalists that national oil output of South Sudan has decreased to 170,000 barrels per day.

The fighting in South Sudan especially in Juba, Bor and Malakal has jeopardised peace talks in Addis Ababa. The peace talks are already delayed by the rebel demands for the release of the four remaining detainees and the withdrawal of Ugandan troops from South Sudan. The rebels claim that the UPDF alone has killed over 5,000 civilians. The UPDF is known for looting, destroying property, causing mass murders and deploying in war zones across Africa such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia and Central African Republic.

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