On September 1 the Sudanese government (Khartoum) claimed that its forces had recaptured the strategic southern town of Raga (also spelled Ragah) in Bahr al-Ghazal province. If the claim is true this is a major setback to the SPLA. The SPLA captured the town in June. However, on September 3, the SPLA issued a counter-claim, stating that SPLA forces still had full control of the town, following a battle with government forces outside of the city.