Special to WorldTribune.com

CAIRO — South Sudan has reported gains in the ground war against its
northern adversary.

South Deputy Defense Minister Majak Dagoot said his forces repeatedly
defeated the Sudanese Army in their war in April.

Dagoot said South Sudan won at least seven victories in a two-week period in the border war.

“The Sudanese Army, which did not win a single battle with us, was
pursued,” Dagoot said.

Dagoot’s assertion ran counter to that of the Sudanese military.

Khartoum said its army repelled attacks by South Sudan’s new military in several border provinces.

“The last battle we fought was on the evening of April 19 and Khartoum’s army was defeated,” Dagoot said. “We fought all in all seven battles and won them all.”

Officials have acknowledged that Khartoum maintained combat air
superiority in the border war. They said the Sudanese Air Force was using its fleet of MiG-29 fighter-jets and An-26 air transports for attack
missions inside South Sudan.

In an interview with the Saudi-owned A-Sharq Al Awsat, Dagoot said South
Sudan forces were ordered to withdraw amid heavy air strikes by Khartoum. He
said the withdrawal from the oil-rich town of Heglig angered infantry units.

“Militarily, we proved that the Sudanese Army is a paper tiger and
cannot stand against our forces in any future battles if there is war
between us,” Dagoot said on April 24. “It is true we do not have warplanes
and that is not something difficult. We will possess an effective air
force.”

  Majak Dagoot, MiG-29 fighter-jets, oil-rich town of Heglig, South Sudan reports series of wins on the ground but Khartoum controls the air, Sudanese Army