South Sudan army heads for 1956 border

By Bonifacio Taban Kuich

April 11, 2012 (BENTIU) – Unity state’s information minister, Gideon Gatpan Thoar, told Sudan Tribune on Wednesday that South Sudan’s forces now are not only in control of Heglig but have advanced 23km north of it.

Thoar said that Juba been patient during negotiations with Khartoum hosted by the African Union High Level Implementation Panel in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, awaiting a settlement on border demarcation. He said the South Sudanese people had “paid enough for this land” and that “ we will wait for what is coming from Khartoum”.

He claimed that Kersana would be part of Unity state marking the South Sudanese border with its northern neighbour, as it was the case in 1956.

Last month, President Salva Kiir claimed that Heglig belongs to South Sudan. The two countries failed to agree on the demarcation of border particularly in the areas rich of oil and other ressources.

Unity state minister said that hearing SAF’s Anatov planes was reminiscent of the years of the Sudanese civil war which ended in 2005 and saw South Sudan succeed in 2011. He encouraged the people of frontline Unity state to support the SPLA in their defence of South Sudan’s borders.

Also on Wednessday Khartoum’s ministry of information annnouced “this aggression of South Sudan was considered offensive against the whole homeland, a matter that necessitates a strong stand of the Sudanese people to defend their homeland and its people, resources and economy.”

It also stated that SAF and “regular forces” are capable of repelling the South Sudanese agression and are willing to “sacrifice lives for this sake.” It accused SPLA of recieving support from the Sudan Revolutionary Front in its conflict with the SPLA.

(ST)