S. Sudan’s rival forces trade accusations of clashes in Mundri
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February 1, 2016 (JUBA) - South Sudanese rival forces on Monday traded
accusations in which each side attempted to blame the other as being
responsible for fresh clashes in Mundri area, raising fears of
possibility of renewing full scale conflict as the two sides have
failed to break the deadlock, despite mounting regional and global
pressure on the country’s two main principal leaders to comply with
the terms of the peace agreement which they signed in August 2015 to
end more than 21 months of a violent conflict.
JPEG - 10.5 kb
South Sudanese rebel troops loyal to former vice-president Riek Machar
stand on guard in Unity state capital Bentiu on 12 January 2014 after
recapturing the strategic town from government troops (Photo: Reuters)
Lieutenant General Malek Ruben Riak, Deputy Chief of General Staff for
Logistics, also the head of the security arrangement committee on
government side, told Sudan Tribune Monday that he was not aware of
reports that the government forces have moved out of their deployment
areas to launch any attack on the positions held by armed opposition
forces anywhere in the country because they have been instructed to
comply with the terms of the permanent ceasefire as provided for in
the agreement.
“Until I received your call, I did not receive any report indicating
that our forces have moved out anywhere in areas of their deployments
to attack SPLM/A-IO (Sudan People’s Liberation Army) forces. I think
this is a usual way of concealing their plans to launch attacks as a
way to put pressure when the talks are not making any progress”, said
General Riak when reached to comment on reports alleging that
government forces in Lanyi, Mundri East area clashed with the
government forces over weekend.
Joseph Ngere Pacifo, Governor of the newly established Amadi State and
within which the area of clashes falls, confirmed receiving reports of
the clashes but said he was still waiting for full details from the
commanding officers of government forces in the area.
Pacifo affirmed government’s commitment to implement the peace
agreement, adding that government troops were “aware of standing
orders to not lift a foot” from their areas to attack armed opposition
forces except in self-defense when they have under attack.
But while senior military officers and the government officials at
both local and national level denied any knowledge of the attack
carried out by the government forces, local residents affirmed that
government troops attacked areas known to be occupied by armed
opposition forces and accused of them using chemical weapons when they
were overpowered in more than two hours clash on Sunday.
Eyewitnesses claimed attack helicopters deployed by government dropped
bombs containing gas canisters filled with lethal chemicals in and
around opposition held areas west of Juba town and areas located east
of Lui, the capital of Mundri East county in Amadi State, Western
Equatoria.
Residents also claimed there was evidence strongly suggesting that
toxic chemicals dropped by helicopters between 31 January 2016 and
February 1, 2016 affected people, with one attack killing innocent
civilians, including three children.
The accusation comes weeks after the South Sudanese government and the
opposition failed to reach a consensus over the number of states,
number of presidential advisors, the way of replacing members of
parliament in the event a parliamentary post have become vacant and
the number of security and police personnel of armed opposition forces
in addition to the size of protection force for senior members of the
opposition leaders expected to be deployed in accordance with the
provision of the security arrangement matrix which the two side signed
in October 2015 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Local officials claimed that more than 10 government troops and
fighters were killed and several others were wounded in the clash
which occurred over weekend. The government troops are also reported
to be making preparations to take over the area where they were
repelled by rebels’ counter-offensive.
Multiple residents said some bombs alleged to have contained the
chemicals did not detonate when they landed, but there was a strong
smell of chlorine. Local medical personnel are reported to be treating
civilians including one infant found in one area. A local medical
practitioner told Sudan Tribune on Monday that an old man affected by
the bomb died before arriving at Lui hospital. “We tried to treat the
others. The children were foaming at the mouth, they were suffocating,
and then their hearts stopped. The parents had trouble breathing. We
tried to treat them, but they died as well.”
A local activist also told Sudan Tribune on Monday that he had gone to
the site where two bombs had landed in a field on 31 January but there
was no explosion. Soon afterwards, some civilians and rebel fighters
were affected and sought treatment in the area.
“There was a very strong chlorine smell there,” said the activist on
condition of anonymity.
"One of the fighters passed away in my presence. It was horrible. My
eyes were burning. I wanted to throw up. My skin felt like I had
rashes. So I decided to leave the area”, he added”
South Sudanese army received military supplies and equipment recently
and experts are saying this has emboldened some military officers and
government officials seeking military solution to the conflict.
Run by inexperience pilots, the air force is known for responding to
rebel activities by indiscriminate bombing of any area believed to be
in opposition control. The bombs normally contain explosives and scrap
metal, but in this case there is strong evidence that chlorine gas
canisters were employed.
(ST)
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Kind regards,
The Sudan Tribune editorial team.
1 February 22:50, by Lotodo Awino Odug
no war please!! let us iron out these minor issues through
brotherly dialogues.
repondre message
2 February 00:41, by Force 1
"Shoot to kill" must apply if you don’t obey security forces
who are out there to enforce the law and order!
repondre message
2 February 05:00, by Mi diit
A lying government of Nyankiir Kuethpiny. How come the
so-called deputy chief of general staff of the army knew nothing about
those deadly clashes involving his army while the governor of the area
confirmed the clashes and received reports from the commanding officer
on the ground.
Soon our 3000 forces will enter Juba and let us see.
repondre message
2 February 05:03, by Mi diit
Now what will these toothless organizations of IGAD,
AU, Troika, EU and UN say about the cowardice and criminal act by
Nyankiir’s government suffocating civilians with chemical weapons?
Our forces should reach Juba soon and see if these
cowards will change or be ready for fire power to explode in that
cursed capital.
repondre message
2 February 05:19, by hellonearth
Lotodo,
We can not solve this brotherly, when you are using chemical
weapons on innocent civilians and attack helicopter and imposing 28
states on South Sudanese. Dinka will pay just like the arabs.
repondre message
2 February 04:03, by Developer
Those of you equatoria leaders who sticked with evil president
Kiir have to see now how S.Sudan government is using weapon of mass
distruction such as Chlorine gas canisters to kill innocent civilians.
President Kiir, you begun by butcharing Nuer but you failed to finish
them, Now your turn your deadly weapons on Equatoria, also you can’t
finish all of us. To be warn this war will end on one trib
repondre message
2 February 05:22, by hellonearth
He started with the shilluks in 2008, then the Murle in 2010
then the Nuer 2013 and now 2015 Equatorians. People wake up and let’s
do away with this Dinka Government.
repondre message
2 February 06:38, by Eastern
South Sudanese seem to have learnt a thing or two about war. The
less than two years war has reduced the country to her knees and now
heartless folks are toying with more war. Ok, then go for a full blown
war but keep it within South Sudan if you!!
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