South Sudanese rebel leader killed in faction hostility

South Sudanese rebel commander General Gabriel Tanginye has been confirmed dead after a clash between armed groups on Wednesday in the country’s Upper Nile Region.

Minister of Information, Michael Makuei, confirmed his death to the media in the capital Juba on Friday.

“The forces of General Johnson Olony fought with the forces of Tanginye; which are actually the forces of Dr. Lam Akol that resulted into the death of General Tanginye,” the minister was quoted by local radio station Eye Radio.

“We are hoping that despite the fighting by the rebels we still hope that these people will come to their senses that they will join us in the peace process,” Makuei added. More than 20 other people were reported dead during the clash which occurred under unknown circumstances.

General Gabriel Tanginye was one of the senior rebel commanders who switched sides from the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition under the command of former Vice President Riek Machar before the signing of the 2015 peace agreement. The commander who pledged to be independent of the two major rebel groups is believed to have found himself in between the clash between forces aligned to Riek Machar and a former Minister of Agriculture respectively.