Eight killed in fresh violence in Abyei, administration faults Sudanese army
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May 2, 2011 (ABYEI) – The Administration of the contested region of
Abyei on Monday accused members of Joint Integrated Unit (JIU) of the
Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) in the area of initiating fresh clashes in
which eight soldiers have been confirmed dead.
Several others were equally reported to have sustained severe injuries
in the fighting involving local police forces against some members of
the Joint Integrated Units on Sunday 1 May, 2011.
This violence occurred following reports from officials in Abyei that
armed elements identified by their military uniform as belonging to
the Sudan Armed Forces, using heavy machine guns mounted on three
pick-up vehicles, launched an attack on a local police post, on
Saturday, killing one police officer and slightly injuring another in
Damoloya, 12 miles north of Abyei town.
Several other foot soldiers were reported to have participated in the
attack reportedly lasted over three hours.
Tensions are rapidly building up as forces loyal to the Sudan People’s
Liberation Army, and the Sudan Armed Forces are reported to have
established fortified camps close to each other in the area.
The clash follows a contentious statement by the Sudanese President,
Omer Hassan Ahmed Al Bashir, at a gubernatorial rally, in south
Kordodan town of Muglad in which he was quoted, last Tuesday, as
saying Abyei belongs to the north and will remain part of the north.
"Abyei is part of north Sudan and will remain of the north. We do not
say this just here. We say it in many forums and occasions", said
Sudanese President Al-Bashir in a live statement on National Omduran
Radio on Wednesday.
Bashir also threatened to wage war if the SPLM attempt to annex Abyei
to the South Sudan.
Acuil Akol Miyen, minister of finance in Abyei Administration, told
Sudan Tribune, on Monday 2, 2011, that the fighting was triggered by
SAF attempts of arms buildup in the area, without the knowledge of the
local administration and United Nations.
"A fighting took place yesterday on Sunday 2, 2011 between Lenger
[named in Arabic as Goli] and Todach over attempts made by Sudan Armed
Forces component of the Joint Integrated Units in the area to beef up
its military forces. The clashes occurred at around 4.00pm and
continued until 6:30PM between local police and Sudan Armed Forces
component of the Joint Integrated Units", said Acuil on Monday.
The Satellite Sentinel Project (SSP) set up by U.S. movie star George
Clooney released images last March confirming buildup of firepower by
the armed forces from north and south Sudan in the volatile area.
"Northern-aligned troops appear to have constructed a forward
operating base in the past two weeks at Bongo (...). The Bongo base is
some 20 kilometers to the north of where SPLA-aligned forces appear to
have trenched in at the razed villages of Todach and Tajalei,"
according to SSP analysis.
Minister Acuil said two policemen were killed and four others
sustained injuries in the fighting while several dead bodies on the
side of SAF were found left on the ground after the clash and local
police seized weapons the northern troops wanted to take into the
town.
"On our side, 2 policemen were lost in the fight and 4 others were
injured but they inflicted heavy casualties on the attacking forces of
the Sudan Armed Forces component of the Joint Integrated Unit, but
they have taken the weapons. Six dead bodies were found left on the
ground as several of them fled into the bush when they were engaged
with the police forces in the fight", he further said.
He said more than six soldiers whose bodies were found might have been
killed because the police were quick to realize the intention of the
Sudanese forces.
"I believe more than just the six dead bodies might have been killed
because the local police were quick to realize intention of the Sudan
Armed Forces and chased them leaving behind weapons they wanted to
bring into the town without the knowledge of the local administration
and UN".
MILITARY BUILD UP
Acuil alleged that the SAF force in the joint units arranged to bring
more weapons than their counterpart from the SPLA without the
knowledge of the local administration and United Nations.
"The Sudan Armed Forces component of the Joint Integrated Units in
Abyei has 15 heavy machine guns of 12.7 mm mounted on vehicles while
Sudan People’s Liberation Army component of the Joint Integrated Unit
has only four machine guns. The SPLA forces are not equipped in equal
number as they are supposed to have the same number of vehicles and
weapons".
He also went to say that the SPLA according to a joint agreement, has
to deploy more troops and weapons but due to logistical and
administrative challenge, the central command of South Sudan army
failed to do so up to date.
"So, in pursuit of the agreement, the SPLA command last week, instead
of sending 11 machine guns, sent in only six machine guns and four
other will arrive. But there is still a need for additional five
machine guns," he said stressing that northern troops got more
vehicles early this year.
The minister went to say that despite this clear difference in
armament, the SAF still want to bring more weapons claiming that SPLA
forces have brought in more military supplies. "This was why they want
to bring in more weapons," Acuil said.
He also claimed that the northern troops attempted to increase their
strength and brought more than 200 additional soldiers with in clear
violations of the signed agreements.
Acuil accused Khartoum building up power fire to control Abyei in the future.
"This is the ploy but we know it", he said, adding that the over 3,000
troops which came to the oil producing region in early March, 2011
joined the fighting on Sunday.
Rahama Abdel Rahman Al Nur, deputy chief administrator reached by
Sudan Tribune declined to comment on the incident saying the issue was
still at the military level. "I cannot comment and cannot confirm
anything because this is a military issue and it is still at the
military level", he said.
Last January the South Sudan voted overwhelmingly in favor of
secession from the north. But the two parties of the Comprehensive
Peace Agreement failed to organize another referendum where people in
Abyei were to decide whether they want to remain in north Sudan or
join the independent South Sudan. The NCP and SPLM differ on who can
participate in the vote.
(ST)
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