Once in Juba, the insurgents were reportedly joined by Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) soldiers who were loyal to deposed chief of staff Paul Malong Awan.

Even though Chan Garang assumed responsibility for the attack, both the South Sudanese government and the SPLM-IO condemned the clashes, with the latter claiming that its forces had not been involved at all.

[2][3] In mid-2017, political struggles within the government resulted in Kiir deposing SPLA chief of staff Paul Malong Awan and putting him under house arrest.

[9] Chan Garang later claimed that he regarded the December ceasefire as already being violated by the government due to the capture of Lasu and two clashes in Upper Nile.

[10] At 10 pm on 4 January 2018,[10] SPLM-IO fighters commanded by Chan Garang Lual attacked SPLA outposts[3][4] at Kupri Haboba and Lemon Gaba in western Juba.

[10] In the end, the clashes engulfed the western outskirts of Juba,[7][10] namely the neighborhoods of Gurei, Kapuri,[12] Jebel Dinka, Gudele, Lemon Gaba, and Rock City.

[4][11] After Malong was released from house arrest and organized the South Sudan United Front (SS-UF) rebel group, Chan Garang joined him.