SPLA clashes with militias claims death of 30 and seriously injured 28 people in South Sudan

By Bonifacio Taban Kuich

March 17, 2011 (BENTIU) – South Sudan army, Sudan People’s Liberation army (SPLA) clashed Thursday with militias in the oil rich Unity state leaving more that 30 people dead and seriously injured other 28.

The heavy fighting in Mayom, largest county in the state took place four days after similar clashes in Malakal Upper Nile capital raising fears of violence escalation in the South Sudan which voted overwhelmingly in favour of independence.

The militias involved in the clashes were part of the Sudan Army Forces (SAF) under the command of Brigadier General Bapiny Monytuel Wijang and Col. Gai Yaoch.

In February, Governor Taban Deng Gai told a group of journalist at Bentiu town that his state government’s first priority is to bring South Sudanese soldiers from Sudan Army Forces and renegade Gatluak Gai forces into SPLA affairs.

He emphasized that their integration needs to be achieved before the declaration of South Sudan’s independence in July.

Gai further said violence issues in the South should be addressed through a peaceful dialogue with all the armed groups, especially those who were part of the northern Sudanese army and militiamen loyal to James Gai Yaoch, Bapiny Monytuel Wijang and Gatluak Gai in Unity state, hoping that a peaceful resolution would be found.

The forces of Bapiny Monytuel Wijang and Gai Yaoch were assembled in Riak Payam at South of Mayom County; these forces came in the area earlier a month carrying heavy weapons from Khartoum claiming to join South Sudanese army.

The clashes started in the area after a visit by officers from SPLA who came to Mayom to discuss the integration of the militiamen into SPLA forces, prison services and police service.

Col. Mathew Puol Jang Top, the militia’s highest ranking officer in Riak payam (district) refused the integration of his forces into the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA). He explained that his high ranking commanders, especially Brigadier General Bapiny Monytuel and Gai Yaoch, were not present.

The SPLA force commander insisted that there might be dispute if these militias continue to refuse to be intergraded into SPLA Affairs Ministry. Top, who formerly served in the SPLA, took arms against the ruling party Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM) after the general election in April 2010, when the SPLM candidate Taban Deng took over from the Independent candidate, Angelina Jany Teny in Unity state.

But SPLA spokesman Philip Aguer said the South Sudan army received complaints that the militiamen started to illegally tax the civilians in the area one month after their arrival from the north.

He further told Reuters the militia attacked the SPLA during a visit to investigate the taxation complaints early on Thursday.

“The SPLA responded by attacking their base this morning in heavy clashes for four hours, dislodging them,” he said.

Speaking by telephone from his county on Thursday, Mayom Commissioner, Charles Machieng Kuol, told Sudan Tribune that the forces loyal to Col. Mathew Puol Jang in Riak have disregarded the decision made earlier by SPLA officials to start negations on the integration of over 1,500 militia members, into the SPLA affairs.

Kuol further said that the situation is threatening the citizens throughout Unity state and in particular Mayom County, where the recent incidents occurred. He added that the SPLA have right to protect the civilian security within the south.

(ST)