Ugandan and South Sudanese troops clash at border, killing at least 4

KAMPALA Uganda AP Troops from Uganda and South Sudan clashed along the confines between their countries in a firefight that left at least four dead a Ugandan military official noted Wednesday as tensions flared over disputed perimeter demarcations Three South Sudanese soldiers were shot dead by Ugandan forces who retaliated after one of their soldiers was killed on Monday declared Maj Gen Felix Kulayigye spokesperson for the Ugandan military But Wani Jackson Mule a local official in South Sudan s Central Equatoria state stated he received the bodies of five soldiers The firefight occurred in a remote part of northwestern Uganda known as West Nile when South Sudanese soldiers crossed further into Ugandan territory set up camp and refused to leave according to Kulayigye We had to apply force he noted Mule described the firefight as a surprise attack by Ugandan forces in territory they consider to lie within South Sudan A spokesman for South Sudan s military Maj Gen Lul Ruai Koang noted military leaders from South Sudan and Uganda have agreed to an immediate ceasefire to enable an probe of the latest boundary clash Sections of the Uganda-South Sudan territory line have been contested for years Leaders from the two countries have set up a joint perimeter demarcation committee whose work is ongoing Kulayigye explained Leaders from both countries have previously disclosed that they expect to reach a firm decision in Although there have been sporadic dividing line clashes over the years the exchange of fire between the military allies is rare Ugandan forces have been deployed to South Sudan to help patronage President Salva Kiir against forces loyal to Vice President Riek Machar Ugandan special forces are deployed in Juba the capital and elsewhere in South Sudan Machol disclosed from Juba South Sudan More AP Africa news https apnews com hub africa Source