Western Equatoria government refutes SPLA opening firing in mosque allegations
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May 25, 2011 (KAMPALA) – Authorities of Western Equatoria state (WES),
South Sudan, on Wednesday refuted an article published in
Khartoum-based newspaper, Alintiber that alleged that “SPLA [Sudan
People’s Liberation Army] soldier opened fire on Tuesday in a mosque
killed one person and injured many others.”
The acting governor of WES and official spokesperson for the
government, Gibson Bullen Wande described the publication as a
“baseless and false allegation against SPLA forces.”
Wande clarified that what happened in the mosque was an “isolated
incident in which one criminal who was drunk dressed in police uniform
that went and shot at people in the mosque during evening prayers -
two people were injured one Somali and one Sudanese currently getting
treatment at Yambio hospital.”
“What I am trying to say is that the incident that happened in the
mosque is an isolated case which has no political or insecurity
connection with neither the Muslim brothers nor anybody,” explained
Wande.
He went on to say “communities of WES do not have bad heart against
Muslims as written in the newspaper. I condemn the newspaper for
publishing false article that tarnishes the image of the state.”
Wande said the criminal has been arrested and is under “investigation
in the police custody in Yambio.”
South Sudan and Western Equatoria in particular is predominantly
Christian. Tensions with the predominantly Muslim north are increasing
in the run-up to the deceleration of the independence of Republic of
South Sudan so the conflict being perceived as having a religious
element is particularly inopportune now. Interpreting the conflict
between north and South and a religious conflict is reductive.
The 22-year civil war between north and South Sudan ended in 2005 with
the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). A stipulation
of the agreement was the for autonomy for South Sudan. The South
Sudanese voted in favor of secesion in January 2011. The birth of the
Republic of South Sudan if scheduled for 9 July. What the future will
hold for the signatories of the CPA is uncertain as conflict continues
in the borderlands.
(ST)
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