New Satellite Sentinel Project (SSP) imagery of the strategic town of Kaka in South Sudan's Upper Nile state confirms the burning of 1071 huts and tukuls and some limited damage to the central market. The 1071 structures were burned in Kaka between March 14 and April 2, 2014, when the new images were secured. The town, which lies on the road to South Sudan's only productive oilfields in Paloch or Palouge, was attacked as recently as four to five days ago. South Sudanese armed opposition leader Riek Machar recently announced that his forces are seeking to control the Paloch oilfields, which currently produce around 150,000 barrels a day, worth around $15 million dollars. An attack is likely imminent.
Preliminary DigitalGlobe Intelligence Solutions (DGIS) analysis of the nearby oilfields does not appear to indicate any damage to the oilfield infrastructure. Kaka has been a flashpoint for fighting between the rebels and the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA), including the White Army and forces formerly loyal to Shilluk rebel commander Johnson Olony as part of the South Sudan Democratic Movement/Army (SSDM/A). Kaka is located on the western bank of the White Nile in the northern-most county of Manyo - an area that is ethnically Shilluk and easily controlled because it is geographically remote.
Kaka is currently under the control of rebel forces, according to the SPLA, and it was Olony ...
]
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
See More
Report Abuse