Warrap state attack: South Sudan accuses Khartoum of arming militia
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By Toby Collins
January 30, 2012 (LONDON) – South Sudan’s interior minister, Alison
Manani Magaya, on Monday accused Khartoum of arming a militia
responsible for killing “over 40” people in Warrap state.
JPEG - 21 kb
Women collecting aid supplies, Warrap, South Sudan, 2011 (AFP)
Magaya said the militia from Unity state which “was armed by the
government of Khartoum”, also stole cattle.
"More weapons are flowing in from Khartoum ... particularly Unity
state and Upper Nile," said Magaya
Spokesman for the Sudanese military, the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF),
Sawarmi Khaled, denies the claims.
Magaya was unable to specify the affiliation of those responsible for
the attack. The South Sudan Liberation Movement / Army and South Sudan
Democratic Movement / Army are Unity states most active rebels, but
preceding recent attacks, they have released statements urging
civilians to evacuate the area. It is probable that the militia was
unaligned.
The attack took place in a tumultuous part of South Sudan at a time
when the country is subject to increased security pressures internally
and externally.
The South Sudanese army, the Sudan People’s Liberation Army, was put
on high alert on 25 January after reports of bombing raids within its
borders, perpetrated by Khartoum; and in an escalation of the ongoing
dispute over the payment of oil transit fees.
Jonglei state, to the east of Unity, has recently been the scene of
conflict between the Murle and Luo-Nuer ethnic groups. The UN
estimates nearly 120,000 people have been displaced by the conflict.
South Kordofan, to the north of Unity, across the international
border, is subject to ongoing conflict between Khartoum and the Sudan
People’s Liberation Movement – North rebels which the UN estimates has
displaced 200,000.
Both Juba and Khartoum have accused one another of backing rebel
movements operating within their national boundaries.
The Small Arms Survey released a report in October 2011 which claimed
that weapon seizures indicated that a significant quantity of South
Sudanese arms may have come from Khartoum.
(ST)
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