South Kordofan governor says Al-Hilu planned coup with Darfur rebels
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July 27, 2011 (KHARTOUM) – South Kordofan Governor Ahmad Haroun has
charged his former deputy Abdul Aziz Al-Hilu with attempting a
localized coup in coordination with rebel groups from the western
region of Darfur.
JPEG - 28.3 kb
National Congress Party candidate for governor, Ahmed Haroun, speaks
to the press after voting at the polling centre in Kadogli in the
South Kordofan state, May 2, 2011 (REUTERS PICTURES)
Sudan’s oil-producing state of South Kordofan, which borders the newly
independent state of South Sudan and the war-battered region of
Darfur, descended into violence since 6 June when Sudan army known as
the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) clashed with forces of the Sudan
People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) led by Abdul Aziz al-Hilu.
The conflict in South Kordofan, which escalated into heavy artillery
and aerial bombardment, is believed to have been erupted after SAF
attempted to disarm SPLM fighters. The violence also followed
contentious gubernatorial elections in which Haroun, the incumbent
governor of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP), was declared
winner over his deputy Al-Hilu who disputed the result saying the vote
was rigged.
Addressing a press conference in Khartoum on Tuesday, Haroun said that
Al-Hilu had planned to launch a coup on 6 June and assassinate 110
political figures in the state.
He further said that documents obtained by the army at Al-Hilu’s
residence revealed a plan by AL-Hilu forces to wrestle control of
South Kordofan’s state capital Kadugli with three divisions of the
SPLM’s military wing, the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), at 6
pm on 6 June.
Haroun, who faces an arrest warrant by the International Criminal
Court (ICC) on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity
allegedly committed in the course of the government’s notorious
counterinsurgency in Darfur region, said that Al-Hilu had also planned
to coordinate with Darfur rebel groups to advance towards Khartoum
once control of Kadugli is secured.
The ICC indictee further claimed that Al-Hilu was receiving assistance
from Bentiu town in the Unity State of South Sudan.
South Sudan declared full independence from Sudan on 9 July. The
region, which is ruled by the SPLM, says it no longer maintain ties
with forces in South Kordofan.
Haroun said they were still willing to engage in dialogue with
Al-Hilu, however, he added that such dialogue must occur within the
framework of effective security arrangements and without
preconditions.
Khartoum government withdrew commitment to an agreement it signed on
28 June with the SPLM in Addis Ababa on South Kordofan situation.
The deal, which stipulated the recognition of the SPLM’s as a legal
political party in north Sudan and provides for the integration of
SPLA forces into SAF, was declared null and void by President
Al-Bashir who ordered SAF to sustain military operations in South
Kordofan.
Separately, Haroun has strongly denied reports on the identification
of mass graves in South Kordofan.
Citing satellite imagery and eye-witness reports, the Satellite
Sentinel Project (SSP), which monitors Sudan, said last week it had
found evidence of mass graves in Kadugli town.
A leaked report produced by the UN Mission in Sudan concluded that
“especially egregious” acts by SAF during the conflict could be
considered as war crimes and crimes against humanity, recommending a
probe by the ICC into the situation.
In an interview with Saudi owned Al-Sharq Al-Awsat newspaper on 24
July, al-Hilu echoed accusations that the Sudanese government has been
pursuing ethnic cleansing policy in South Kordofan.
Haroun, for his part, said that the Sudanese Red Crescent Society
handled burial of all victims in accordance with the criminal
procedures law.
The NCP official dismissed the possibility of re-holding the elections
in South Kordofan. “Re-holding elections in South Kordofan is a
medicine that it unavailable in our pharmacies,” he added.
Haroun said that the doors for dialogue would remain open but their
swords would remain unsheathed.
In a related development, Haroun stressed that there is no intention
to setup refugee camps in South Kordofan, claiming that 80 percent of
the internally displaced people have returned to their homes.
More than 72,000 people have been displaced since South Kordofan
violence erupted, according to UN estimates.
(ST)
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