South Sudanese government forces seized the stronghold of the country’s rebel leader and the capital of oil-rich Unity state from insurgents, drawing criticism from the U.S. for violating a January truce. Government forces yesterday retook Unity’s capital, Bentiu, and Nasir, the town in neighboring Upper Nile state used as a base by former Vice President Riek Machar, army spokesman Philip Aguer said by phone today from the national capital, Juba. Rebel spokesman Mabior Garang confirmed the army had recaptured the towns. “It’s not a fragile takeover,” Aguer said. Nasir is “very crucial because that was the headquarters of Riek Machar.” The government expects attacks on the oil-producing state to cease as a result, he said. Fighting erupted in the world’s newest nation on Dec. 15 with President Salva Kiir accusing Machar of leading a coup, a charge Machar denies. Violence has left thousands of people dead and forced more […]