Africa's Newest Country, South Sudan readies for final assault on rebels

Juba: South Sudan forces have been preparing for an offensive on the last key town under the control of rebels, Press TV reported Saturday.
 South Sudan is mobilising thousands of troops to fight with the rebels in Jonglei state's capital town of Bor, around 200 km north of here, the government said.

The move to deal a final blow to the rebels comes a day after government troops recaptured the country's main oil hub Bentiu, the capital of oil-producing northern Unity state.

Riek Machar, President Salva Kiir’s sacked vice president who has assumed the leadership of the rebels,
has pledged to defend Bor.

A spokesperson for Machar also said that while rebels had lost the town of Bentiu, the area's oil infrastructure was still in their hands.

Violent clashes erupted in South Sudan December 15 after Kiir accused Machar of attempting to stage a coup. The former vice president denies the accusations.