South Sudan Army says contained fighting in greater Upper Nile, 165 killed
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April 25 2011 (WAU) – Government of South Sudan on Monday said it
contained clashes which simultaneously erupted in the three states of
Greater Upper Nile State, with rebel groups adding 165 people were
killed in the fighting.
JPEG - 20.3 kb
soldiers march during a parade at the 4th anniversary celebration of
the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (Reuters)
The Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) clashed during the past days
with fighters loyal to Peter Gadet Yak and Gabriel Tanginya.
Officials, interviewed by Sudan Tribune, said the fighting with
Tanginya erupted at Kaldak assembly area on Saturday over the killing
of a senior officer of the militia leader after attempts to persuade
him accept integration of his forces without giving conditions.
"Yes, there was a fighting on Saturday morning but it has been
contained. The situation is now under controlled, said Brigadier
General Malaak Ayuen, head of SPLA public relations and information.
Ayuen said a total 165 fighters have been lost in the clashes between
south Sudan’s army and Tanginya’s forces. "At the moment we have
information that 165 fighters have been lost in the series of fighting
involving SPLA soldiers against forces loyal to two militias leaders
in Jonglei and Unity states," he said.
"In the fighting which occurred on Saturday in Kaldak, the SPLA lost 7
soldiers and 57 rebels were killed. And in the fighting in Unity state
(with Peter Gadet ), we have lost 26 SPLA soldiers and at least 70
rebels have been killed, probably more," said Ayuen.
He added the figures did not include a clash on Sunday when the SPLA
launched what he termed as a "hot pursuit" against forces loyal to
Peter Gadet, resulting into cashing them toward the border with the
north in the area.
He said over one hundred people were killed in the clashes with Peter
Gadet since Tuesday last week. "The fighting in Unity State has
claimed a lot of lives on both sides. So far, we have reports
indicating that 101 people have been in the fighting which occurred in
Unity State alone."
South Sudanese voted overwhelmingly in January to separate from the
north. The January referendum was part of the 2005 peace agreement
which the Southern rebel and the Sudan government signed in the Kenyan
capital of Nairobi to end decades of civil war.
However, the post election violence raises fear among the ordinary
people that it would undermine the peace process if it continues
without being addressed before independence.
The South Sudan army, the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA),
experienced of armed confrontation with at least seven rebel groups
besides routine traditional tribal conflicts mostly practiced by
cattle-keepers.
Senior officials from the South Sudan’s governing party, the Sudan
People’s Liberation Movement, have repeatedly accused Khartoum of
supporting and mobilizing the militias against Juba to create
instability and keep the south weak and reliant on the north’s oil
infrastructure. Khartoum denies the allegations.
Ayuen said Tang surrendered himself with at least 1,300 fighters and
made no comment on whether Tang would still be covered by amnesty
which the president of south Sudan offered to all rebels in October
last year or not.
However, Gabriel Tanginya reported voluntarily himself to the SPLA
saying he wants to continue the reintegration process of his forces in
the South Sudan army, interrupted by the “unexpected” clashes on
Saturday at Kaldak assembly area in Jonglei state.
SPLA sources yesterday denied that they started the fighting against
the militia leader. The South Sudan army said when SPLA officers
arrived to the assembly area to deliver a letter from Slava Kiir to
Gabriel Tang unidentified person shot a bullet in the outskirts of the
area causing confusion which erupted into clashes between the two
forces.
James Maluit Ruea, commissioner of Fangak County; Jonglei State, said
in an interview with Sudan Tribune on Monday that he does not know the
actual cause of what triggered the Saturday’s fighting.
"I truly do not know the actual cause of fighting. These are military
issues," he said. "Military issues are always complicated as they are
connected to security and safety, so I do not know the actual cause",
further said commissioner Ruei declining additional comments.
However, a senior administrative officer who requested to remain
anonymous said the fighting was triggered by the killing of a senior
officer from Tanginye’s froces, three days before the fighting took
place.
"The fighting was triggered by the killing of a senior officer on the
side of the Gabriel Tanginye three days before the fighting occurred
over observations of the continued recruitment of the local
populations into the designated Assembly areas. The deceased officer
was accused of mobilizing local population to accept recruitment. The
other contributing reasons were reservations of Gabriel Tanginya over
integration of his forces".
He said the fighting which broke out yesterday between 8:30 and 9:00
AM indicates failure on the two sides to reach any consensus over
details of the integration.
"The fighting which took place yesterday is a clear indication that
the two sides have failed to reach any consensus after attempts to
persuade Gabriel to reconsider his position on some of the demands.
One of the demands was the need to integrate forces of Tanginye into
the SPLA with their current ranks".
"I think this is where they have not been able to reach a consensus
since discussions started two months ago," the official said,
confirming that over 57 people were killed as several others sustained
serious gunshots. I do not have complete details of the clashes but a
lot of people have been killed. I personally attended burial of 34
soldiers who fought on both sides".
He said most of those who took part in the clash hailed from the same area.
"You see those who participated in yesterday’s fighting are from the
same section and in the same area. Majority of the people are from
Fangak and the neighboring communities. So those who were killed
fighting either as SPLA soldiers or on the side of Gabriel Tanginye
are buried in the same villages, he said.
Ruei Kok Ruei, an administrative officer with international relief
organization, said in a separate interview with Sudan Tribune in
Malakal town, capital of Upper Nile State, he saw seven wounded
soldiers being rushed in a police ambulance to Malakal teaching
hospital from where the fighting took.
A minister in the government of south Sudan in Juba who did not want
to be named said the clash which took place in Kaldak with forces of
Gabriel Tanginya in the assembly area on Saturday was a test of the
SPLA strength by the enemies of peace.
"Khartoum is fighting us with proxy militia with intention to sabotage
hoisting flag of the new nation. This is not true. It is their false.
We will raise our flag come 9th of July whether it will rain blood or
shine with automatic rocket missiles," he said.
"What was happening last week was nothing but attempt by Khartoum to
test our strength. They thought they would take Mankien and Mayom but
it was unfortunate that they did not achieve their dream."
"Instead our forces expelled them from Mankien and gained control of
the whole area. There are no forces of Gadet in the area as we speak.
They have been expelled and some of them were captured and are being
held as war captives," he explained.
The minister went to add that South Sudan army is now in control of
the region in areas where the fighting was reported to have taken
place.
"At the moment, there are no forces of the rebel groups. Gadet has been expelled
"Our forces were also attacked by forces of Gabriel Tanginya. They
attacked position of our soldiers so our soldiers fired back resulting
into the killing of senior officers".
"57 were killed and several others were seriously wounded from them.
Gabriel Tanginye was personally involved in the fighting but narrowly
survived because he ran away to Kolnyang after our forces overran his
headquarters", explained the minister.
He said the cause of fighting was that Gabriel Tanginya refused
integration and continue to recruit more recruits into the Assembly
area from the local population even after he was a letter by South
Sudan President General Salva Kiir Mayardit to come to Juba.
"This, he said, was a clear indication that he had hidden agenda which
the regional government had discovered and so told him to stop
recruitment from the local people and accept disarmament and
integration without conditions but he did not listen because he was
coordinating this recruitment process with other dissidents."
Talks with general Gabriel Tanginye over the integration of his forces
are stalled since last February. The SPLA asked him to accept their
integration without any condition.
"We have been talking to him since February without success. He has
been making nonsense by giving some conditions. Who is he to refuse
disarmament and make these nonsense ", asked senior military officer
who prefer to remain anonymous
He accused Tanginya of posing condition because of guns he received
from Khartoum.
"Tanginya was complicating integration because he thinks he has guns.
These guns were given to him by Khartoum with intention that he would
come to destabilize the south like he always does."
" He is now still being paid by Khartoum. That was they allowed him
take weapons amounted on vehicles. We have now taken them and disarmed
all his men so that we see what is behind these demands."
However, officials from the government of south Sudan and who have
family connection with Gabriel Tanginye said the fighting was neither
ignited by forces loyal to Tanginye nor SPLA in the area but by
unidentified groups.
"What happened on Saturday was an accident no side had knowledge about it."
They said the incident was initiated by unknown group who fired at
both Gabriel Tang and SPLA forces and disappear immediately after
launching the attack.
"The SPLA Brig. Gen. Gatwec was shot right away and one of Tang’s
officers was also shot dead by the same group. When the unknown gunmen
started firing, everybody ran for a cover as usual," explained a
source who did not want to be named.
"Both sides suspected people who do not want integration of Tang’s
forces. The same thing happened to George Athor when the GoSS Peace
delegation visited him. There are people who feel threatened whenever
there is peace. Neither the SPLA officer Gatwec nor Gabriel Tang was
for war", explained a senior SPLM member, who was talking to Sudan
Tribune from Juba on Monday.
(ST)
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