Sudan SPLA dismisses SAF explanation for clashes, recommends new JIUs for Malakal

March 2, 2009 (JUBA) — The SPLA issued a statement dismissing the army’s implicit claim that recent fighting in Malakal had been between Dinka and Nuer ethnicities, saying that the Sudan Armed Forces’ (SAF) denial of involvement was “blatantly misleading and untrue.” In order to avoid more clashes, the SPLA recommended withdrawing the current forces composing the Joint Integrated Unites and replacing them with fresh components.

The clashes occurred last Tuesday between the SPLA and forces of a former militia leader and current army commander, colloquially known as Gabriel Tang-Ginye (also Tangingyang; his real name is Gatwich Chan). According to SPLA, the fighting resulted into the death of 57 people, more than 90 others seriously injured. SAF lost 16 soldiers while 33 others sustained injuries, the SPLA lost 15 and 40 were wounded, while the number of civilian casualties was reported to be 26 dead and 21 others injured.

Written on Saturday from the SPLA General Headquarters by Col. Malaak Ayuen Ajok, the Director of Information and Civil-Military Relations, the statement dismissed Tang’s explanation made at a press conference in Khartoum: “the allusion that what happened on February 23rd in Malakal was a mere feud between the Nuer and Dinka carries no merit. The SPLA forces that fought Tanginyang and SAF are drawn from all ethnicities of Southern Sudan. In fact the top SPLA commanding officers during the crossfire were Major-General Peter Gatdet, Major-General Yuanis Yual, Major-General Both Teny and Col. James Kuac, all of who are Nuer by tribe.”

Moreover, the spokesperson argued that a small tribal group could not have been in possession of artilleries and tanks, which were used during the fighting last week. “Therefore, SAF aided this criminal with manpower and supplied him with weapons and ammunitions,” he concluded.

The statement went on to recommend several concrete measures for defusing tensions. The four measures are:

First, “the Joint Defense Board and the Presidency must expeditiously resolve the complete integration of JIU as stipulated in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.”

Second, “Fugitive Gabriel Tanginyang must be arrested and handed over to the Government of Southern Sudan to face justice and account for his involvement in the two incidences that occurred in 2006 and 2009.”

Third, “The JIU forces from both sides must be transferred from Malakal and replaced with fresh components in order to create a conducive working atmosphere.”

Fourth, “Although the SPLA has lost faith in investigations, since the recommendations of the first investigation of the first Malakal incident were not implemented, fresh investigations into the incident must be launched provided that the parties commit themselves to respect and implement the recommendations that will be drawn by the investigation committee.”

Spokesman Ajok moreover included a detailed account of the events of February 23 and 24 leading up to the fighting and a description of Tang-Ginye’s historical involvement against the SPLA.

Overall, Ajok described Tang-Ginye a power-seeking opportunist: “During the integration of former militias into the SPLA as stipulated in the CPA, Tanginyang had approached President Salva Kiir in 2006 and gave him four conditions before joining the Southern forces. First, he would be made a Major-General in the SPLA. Second, he would be installed as the area Commander in Fangak County. Third, he would be appointed as Fangak County Commissioner. And lastly, he would be appointed as a Member of Parliament representing Fangak.”

“In his response, the GoSS President told him that as the Commander-In-Chief of the SPLA, he is at liberty to promote him to the rank of Major-General in the SPLA forces. However, becoming the area commander of Fangak would be determined by the size of SPLA stationed there, citing the policy that the rank of a commanding officer is determined by the size of the forces. The President also told him that the community must recommend him for the position of MP and that of County Commissioner before appointing him. He told Tanginyang that it is practically impossible for him to hold all three positions concurrently.

Ajok described this decision as the “point that things started to fall apart” before the Malakal fighting in 2006 in which 150 people died. Ultimately, Tang-Ginye chose not to join the SPLA but opted to take the rank of major-general with the northern army.

(ST)