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------Original message------ From: John Ashworth <[email protected]> To: "Group" <[email protected]> Date: Thursday, May 9, 2013 9:17:05 PM GMT+0300 Subject: [sudan-john-ashworth] South Sudan rebels force army from eastern base and town South Sudan rebels force army from eastern base and town By Hereward Holland JUBA | Wed May 8, 2013 11:17am EDT (Reuters) - South Sudanese rebels have seized a military base and town after clashing with the army in the east, in an escalation of violence that has already uprooted thousands of people and hampered plans to explore for oil. The rebels, led by David Yau Yau and known as the South Sudan Democratic Army (SSDA), say they want to end corruption and the one-party system led by the Sudan Liberation People's Movement. In March, the army launched an offensive against Yau Yau in the eastern state of Jonglei, the country's largest, where the government wants to search for oil with the help of French firm Total. The recent fighting has uprooted tens of thousands of people, according to the United Nations. In an emailed statement, Peter Konyi Kubrin, an SSDA spokesman, said rebels found more than 50 dead bodies in the town after the army fled. The figure could not be independently verified. Army spokesman Philip Aguer said there had been fighting and that the army withdrew from their base in Boma to the top of a mountain, known as Upper Boma, around two hours' walk from the main town. "It's (Boma) divided with the army on the top of the mountain and the rebels at the bottom. It's just a matter of time before we chase them away," Aguer said, but did not give any casualty figures. Since winning independence from Sudan in 2011, South Sudan has been struggling to impose its authority across vast swathes of territory teeming with weapons after decades of civil war with Khartoum. Yau Yau, a former theology student, first rebelled in 2010 after failing to win a seat in state parliament. He accepted an amnesty in 2011 only to take up arms again a year later. Despite a recent thaw in relations between Sudan and South Sudan, Aguer said the rebels were receiving assistance from Sudan's National Intelligence and Security Services in the form of airdrops of weapons, ammunition and supplies. "We are convinced beyond reasonable doubt that Khartoum has been supplying them up to now," Aguer said. The Geneva-based Small Arms Survey, which tracks weapon supplies, said in a recent report much of the rebels' equipment comes from Khartoum. Sudan has routinely denied the charges. (Editing by Ulf Laessing and Raissa Kasolowsky) END ______________________ John Ashworth Sudan, South Sudan Advisor [email protected] +254 725 926 297 (Kenya mobile) +211 919 695 362 (South Sudan mobile) +27 82 050 1235 (South Africa mobile) +44 750 304 1790 (UK/international) +88 216 4334 0735 (Thuraya satphone) PO Box 52002 - 00200, Nairobi, Kenya This is a personal e-mail address and the contents do not necessarily reflect the views of any organisation -- -- The content of this message does not necessarily reflect John Ashworth's views. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, John Ashworth is not the author of the content and the source is always cited. You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "sudan-john-ashworth" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.co.za/group/sudan-john-ashworth --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "sudan-john-ashworth" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "South Sudan Info - The Kob" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
