Aweil Communities say Bahr El Ghazal killing means to prevent border demarcation

January 3, 2008 — The office of the Federation of Aweil Communities in Canada (F.A.C.C), and acting on behalf of Aweil Communities in Diaspora, would like to bring to the immediate attention of the international community, GONU, Southern Sudanese, and marginalized peoples of the Sudan, the series of unprovoked attacks on citizens of Mading Aweil of Northern Bahr El Ghazal State; most particularly, on the returnees and inhabitants of War Rou, Marial Ageb, War Guet, and Majok Yith Thiou. These locations that are being targeted are farther south of the 1956 North-South border. Thus, we are outraged to learn that the National Congress Party/National Islamic Front (NCP/NIF) backed missirya and Popular Defense Force (PDF) have burned down the above mentioned localities, massacred hundreds of defenseless civilians, looted property and livestock, and took countless women and children as human booties.

It’s being reported that more than 135 people were brutally massacred on December 21st, 2007 alone, while the fate of many others, especially those who sometimes traveled alone or in small group, is yet to be established. These vicious, monstrous slaughters and destruction shouldn’t be taken as isolated incidences but a proxy war of some sort orchestrated by the NCP/NIF hawks in Khartoum.

In his speech to PDF in Wad Medani nearly two months ago, for instance, President Al-Bashir made a public declaration requesting all tribal militias, jahidists and all NIF sympathizers to resume training, presumably, in preparation for the infamous jahid or holy war in South Sudan: “I urge leadership of PDF to open training camps and to gather mujahideen…to be ready for anything,” declared Sudan President, Al-Bashir. Therefore, the ongoing massacre in Northern Bahr-El-Ghazal by combine forces of PDF, Missirya and Sudan Armed forces (SAF), is a direct response to Bashir’s inflammatory speech which called for nation wide training and mobilization of militias, PDF and majihidian. In essence, these provocative remarks from Sudan President and NCP Head, Al-Bashir, may explain why senior NCP members are at the forefront mobilizing, training and directing the current war in Northern Bahr-El-Ghazal. For records, we would like to mention the key NIF figures behind the ongoing conflict in Northern Bahr-El-Ghazal.

These people were also identified in the press statement of the Aweil Community in Juba released on December 31st, 2007:

1. Lt. Gen (Rtd) Mahadi Babu Nimir former SAF chief of staff and former Sudanese Minister of Defense the tribal head and supervisor of the attack;

2. Gen. (Rtd) Fadhal Burma Nasir former member of the revolutionary council during Gen. Dhwar El Dhab Regime;

3. Dr. Issa Abshir, former Deputy Governor of Southern Kordofan State;

4. Amir Muslam Mustaffa in Charge of mobilization of the Arab tribes at the border and has been a ring leader of the previous attacks at the borders this year and now still executes the same directives in blocking the IDPs and other people coming to Southern Sudan;

5. Dir Dere Mohammed Ahmed, leading National Congress Party member, in charge of financing the operation and moral support to the Missiriya militias;

6. Maj. Gen. Jenet Hassan Al Amer, in charge of the operations. Gen. Jenet was an attaché in the Sudanese Embassy in Egypt intentionally brought by the Minister of Energy Awadh Al Jazz to annex oil fields in the South to the North.

This is not the first time that successive regimes in Khartoum have used Missirya as proxy forces to advance their agenda in South Sudan. For example, the period of 21 years of military confrontation between North and South Sudan which ended on January 9th, 2005, was used by regimes in Khartoum as opportune moment to depopulate and deplete South Sudan of its people and resources. Due to its close proximity to the North, Mading Aweil has always been the worse affected area during series of North-South conflicts. This was and continues to be done, first and foremost, in order to weaken SPLM/A as it was abundantly clear that people of Mading had rejected and still rejects murderous and genocidaire policies of fundamentalists’ regime in Khartoum.

This time round, however, NCP’s objectives include and not limited to the following:

(1) To prevent demarcation of South-North border.

(2) To destabilize South Sudan so it becomes ungovernable.

(3) To hinder forthcoming census and economic development in the South.

(4) To find an excuse for resuming war thereby unraveling Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).

The level of armament of Missirya by NCP leaves no doubt to the fact that the regime in Khartoum truly means business: it is hell bent to do anything to dishonor the CPA. While it is being claimed that the war in Northern Bahr-El-Ghazal is between Missirya and people of Aweil, the truth of matter is that the ongoing war is a joined effort between Missirya, PDF and SAF against people of Aweil. The evidence is there for all to see; the forces that are being used to attack Aweil people are well armed with heavy artillery, mounted machine guns and different kinds of modern military hardware, to mentioned but a few.

One may wonder: who really controls South-North border – SAF or Missirya? How supposedly a group of civilians could cross the border with impunity and cause havoc in the South? As SAF continues to arm and support Missirya’s atrocities against the peaceful people of Mading Aweil, SPLA as the sole protector of the people of South Sudan is duty bound to intervene and protect our people from these proxy forces.

Yes, people of Mading Aweil, like all other marginalize people of the Sudan strongly support the CPA but if the SAF and allied forces do not abide by the provisions of peace, then there is no reason why SPLA should be expected to stay aloof and watch our people being massacred. It (SPLA) should do everything to protect the innocent civilians who are currently being targeted for no faults of their own other than being citizens of South Sudan. Destruction of Mading Aweil during 21-year liberation struggle must not be repeated. Memories of massacres in Babanusa and Dhein, are still fresh in our people’s minds as they were then. We therefore say that never again should history be allowed to repeat itself in our full view. It’s our conviction that collective will of the people of marginalized areas and all peace loving Sudanese will prevail over these forces of destruction. The people who are instigating and perpetuating this needless massacre should never be allowed to get away with blood-stained hands as in the past but must be brought to book.

We call upon people of South Sudan and all marginalize areas to stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of Mading Aweil at this trying time. Let it be known that the NCP has never been for peace and has actually put together a comprehensive programme aimed at derailing the CPA. The ongoing conflict in Nothern Bahr-El-Ghazal is nothing but part and parcel of a wider programme meant to unravel the CPA. If this conflict is not given immediate attention, it will sooner than latter engulf the whole country.

We also call on international community, particularly the IGAD member States, United States, United Kingdom, Norway and all peace loving countries to intervene in these unprovoked massacres of civilians in Northern Bahr-El-Ghazal.

We are also calling on the GOSS, GONU and CPA mediators to investigate the role and motivation of individuals mentioned herein. A safe corridor for returning IDPs to the South needs to be established and managed by joint committee from Government of Northern Bahr El Ghazal, Government of South Korfofan, GOSS, GONU, and UN, so that other senseless deaths are prevented. Majority of people killed in recent days are returnees and unless immediate measures are taken to address returnees’ security, many lives will be lost.

Citizens of Mading Aweil worldwide strongly condemn this barbaric and unwarranted attack on our people by combine forces of SAF, PDF and their Missirya allies. We demand that this conflict is brought to a speedy end and a full investigation conducted to bring those behind this act of barbarism to justice.

Finally, F.A.C.C calls upon patriotic citizens of Mading Aweil wherever they may be and all citizens of marginalized regions to stand in solidarity with our people at home. Let us support our citizens in whatever form possible including sending medicines, raising awareness on unfolding events there, identifying more key figures behind these uncalled-for attacks on our people for future persecution, pressuring the two governments: GOSS and GONU to immediately put a stop to the conflict.

Garang Kuot Kuot,
Secretary General,

Federation of Aweil Communities in Canada (F.A.C.C)

[email protected]