South Sudan soldiers head to frontline to fight rebels
<http://www.financialexpress.com/columnist/afp/1> AFP | Minkammen (South
Sudan) | Updated: Jan 11 2014, 20:42 IST
South Sudan: The troops are returning to the battle to retake the key town
of Bor
Crackles of gunfire send hundreds of people fleeing in a stampede -- South
Sudan civilians, traumatised after escaping brutal fighting in which their
relatives died, are still terrified of fresh attacks.
But this time it is celebratory gunfire, as dozens of soldiers board a barge
to cross the same White Nile river that tens of thousands of fleeing
civilians crossed in the opposite direction.
The troops are returning to the battle to retake the key town of Bor, the
last major town in rebel hands after almost a month of heavy conflict.
"Even here across the river, people are still so scared the rebels will come
and attack," said Simon Deng, a student who, like over 80,000 other
civilians fled Bor west across the river's vast swamplands, according to the
United Nations.
"They have suffered so much, seen so much killing."
Day after day barges loaded with civilians arrive on the far river bank
having escaped the fighting in Bor.
Some of those included soldiers separated from their units when comrades
rebelled, who are now regrouping to return back across to the fight.
South Sudan has been gripped by violence since December 15, when clashes
broke out between army units loyal to South Sudanese President Salva Kiir
and those supporting ex-vice president Riek Machar.
Top UN aid chief in South Sudan Toby Lanzer has warned of an "unfolding
humanitarian catastrophe" in the young country.
The UN has said that "very substantially in excess" of 1,000 people have
already been killed in the fighting, and that nearly a quarter of a million
people have fled their homes.
What started as power struggle has morphed into a bitter civil conflict with
ethnic overtones, pitting Kiir's majority Dinka tribe aginst Machar's Nuer
community.
Mamuor Akuer, 31, a father of four, was shot in the leg when gunmen from the
Nuer people attacked his family, as they sheltered on a river island with
their precious cattle.
Alongside the Nuer gunmen fought mutinous soldiers in army fatigues, he
said.
"We were guarding the cattle and they came and took us by surprise, shooting
and killing... 10 of us were killed and four wounded," Akuer said.
But Akuer managed to escape by boat down the narrow waterways to reach the
once-sleepy village of Minkammen, where he received treatment for his bullet
wound.
"Now I am powerless, I can't feed my children... my heart is broken," he
said, as he rested on a bed in an emergency clinic set up by Medecins Sans
Frontieres (MSF-Doctors Without Borders).
The battle to retake Bor continues.
Thé Mulindwas Communication Group
"With Yoweri Museveni and Dr. Kiiza Besigye Uganda is in anarchy"
Kuungana Mulindwa Mawasiliano Kikundi
"Pamoja na Yoweri Museveni na Dk. Kiiza Besigye Uganda ni katika machafuko"
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