Juba dismisses rebel claims, says Khartoum covering Abyei killing
May 12, 2013 (JUBA)- South Sudan on Sunday dismissed Sudanese government claims that it provides support to rebels opposed to Khartoum regime, saying such an allegation was a cover-up to the recent killing of tribal leader in Abyei. South Sudanese Information Minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin 2 April 2 2012 (Getty) “There is no single truth in these allegations. The government of the Republic of South Sudan has always been clear on these unfounded allegations. We have said time and again that South Sudan does not provide any support to any rebel. We believe in peaceful coexistence with our neighbours,” said South Sudan information minister, Barnaba Marial. The claims by the government of Sudan are attempts to cover up the killing of the paramount chief of Abyei, he added. Kuol Deng Majok, the paramount chief the Dinka Ngok and personnel from the United Nation Peacekeeping Force in Abyei (UNISFA) were killed when armed Arab nomads attacked their convoy in the disputed region, last week. World bodies, including the US, strongly condemned the killing and called for investigations into the matter, seen as a blow in efforts to restore the previously strained relations between Sudan and South Sudan. Marial said the allegations made by Khartoum comes as a “surprise”, given that the latter recently delinked South Sudan from any involvement in rebel activities within the northern territories. “It was the government of Sudan which came out to dismiss and telling their press in Khartoum that we have no link to the rebel attack in the North and South Kordofan. Now they are turning around and make these unfounded allegations”, Marial told reporters in the capital, Juba. He said it was the Sudanese government supporting militia groups, fighting proxy wars with South Sudan government on behalf of the northern establishment. “We now have militia group who have just responded to the amnesty. They can themselves attest to the international community and the government of Sudan where they came. Ask them. They are now here in Juba and they will tell you who used to support them. They were in Sudan,” Marial stressed. “These are hard facts, not allegations”, he added. The minister, however, said his government was still committed to work with its Sudanese counterpart to give peace a chance and build trust between the two nations. (ST) -- 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.
