SPLA Recaptures Key Jonglei Town, Advancing Elsewhere
The Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) has recaptured Boma town from the David Yau Yau led rebel group in the volatile Jonglei state, an official has announced. 19 May 2013 South Sudan Deputy Interior Minister Salva Mathok Gengdit at the greater Bahr el Ghazal conference on Sunday, 19 May.[James Deng Dimo] By James Deng Dimo WAU, 19 May 2013[Gurtong]- “I have just received a phone call from our defence minister saying that our SPLA gallant forces have recaptured the strategic town of Boma from rebel David Yau Yau that was recently controlled by his forces,” South Sudan Deputy Interior Minister Salva Mathok Gengdit announced to the greater Bahr el Ghazal conference this morning in Wau. Last week, the Sudan People’s Liberation Army spokesperson Philip Aguer -confirmed the rebels forces took over the lower part of the Boma town in Jonglei state. “Our defence ministers told me that our forces are now in two hours massively advancing everywhere in Jonglei state searching into the rebel positions,” said Gengdit. Two week ago, the South Sudan Democratic Movement/Army released a statement from Jebel Boma showing that Boma sub-county had been captured. The press statement was written by the Spokesman of SSDM/SSDA, Col. Peter Konyi Kubrin who said to be currently in Boma, the headquarters of SSDM/A. Various Envoys in South Sudan yesterday released a joint statement through the United States (US) Embassy, calling for an end to the violence in the volatile Jonglei State. “We are deeply disturbed by mounting reports of abuse of civilians, including killings, beatings, and looting and destruction of homes and humanitarian facilities. We urge all parties – including the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) and other state and non-state armed actors – to ensure that all civilians, regardless of ethnic group, are protected during armed conflict,” the statement read. The joint statement was released by Ambassador Susan D. Page (United States), Ambassador Hanne-Marie Kaarstad (Norway), Chargé d’Affaires a.i. Jon Dean (United Kingdom), Ambassador Sven Kühn von Burgsdorff (European Union), Head of Office Nicholas Coghlan (Canada), Ambassador Stephan Schönemann (Denmark), Chargé d’Affaires a.i. Paul Tholen (The Netherlands), and Head of Cooperation Office Rainer Baudendistel (Switzerland). The Ambassadors say that they are “increasingly concerned about continued violence in Jonglei State” and express condolences to the families of all casualties. They also called on the government to bring those who committed atrocities to account – including members of the security forces – through transparent judicial processes. The release said that they urge all parties to enable humanitarian space in Jonglei, including ensuring safe and unfettered access for humanitarian workers and United Nations representatives to provide assistance and protection to all affected populations, and to enable all wounded to access medical care. It said that the worsening situation in Jonglei State requires a political and not a military solution. “We underscore the need for dialogue between all parties to begin at once. We commend the government of the Republic of South Sudan for its recent offer of amnesty to South Sudanese armed groups, and we urge the groups’ leaders to accept the pardon immediately,” they said. The officials also remind the government that ending the conflict in Jonglei State requires meeting basic needs and addressing the grievances of communities, distinct from meeting demands of rebel leaders. The leaders applaud state and national government officials, military officers, and religious and community leaders for their outreach to the youth of Jonglei in urging restraint and stemming inter-communal conflict in recent weeks. They urged the stakeholders to return to the agreed resolutions of the All Jonglei Peace Conference, and that they will offer their support for the immediate implementation of the measures therein. The diplomats said that they are prepared to support humanitarian assistance to all affected populations across Jonglei State, and to increase development alongside improvements in security. Reflecting on the bold and inclusive resolutions reached at the Conference, diplomats call on all parties to support the core commitment by the communities of Jonglei to “peace, reconciliation and tolerance.” Posted in: Home, Governance -- 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.
