UNISFA suspends fights after rebel attack on Kadugli airport – report
July 3, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – The shelling of Kadugli airport by Sudanese rebels caused the cancellation of border monitoring flights which are part of security arrangements between Khartoum and Juba.
The attack “led to the suspension of flights between Kadugli and Abyei, and the cancellation of all Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism (JBVMM) flights in the border region, hindering UNISFA from carrying out its mandate”, disclosed a report of the Small Arms Survey released on Wednesday.
The (JBVMM), which is based in Kadugli, is composed of 860 Ethiopian troops from the UN Interim Security Force in Abyei (UNISFA). The force with 90 monitors from Sudan and South Sudan patrol the common border to verify the movement of troops from both sides after the establishment of a buffer zone.
UN Security Council on 29 May extended UNISFA mandate for six months, and increased its troops by more than 1,100 personnel to allow it to protect the monitors and to fulfil its mandate on Abyei alike.
Khartoum which accuses Juba of supporting the SPLM-N decided last month to suspend the implementation of the cooperation agreements and stop the flow of the South Sudanese oil through its pipelines within 60 days if it continues its alleged support to the rebels.
The two countries, however, agreed on 1 July to fully implement all the provisions of cooperation agreements including the security measures and to activate a joint committee to examine claims of support to rebels from both sides.
Analysts agree that if oil exportation is Juba’s top priorities, the insurgency in the Two Areas and Darfur remains the main concern for Khartoum government.
Ahmed Ibrahim Tahir, speaker of the National Assembly, warned on Wednesday that the coalition of rebel groups, Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF), plans to carry out new attacks during the upcoming period.
He called on the legislators to continue the mobilization campaign launched after the capture of Abu Kershola last April and to join personally the ranks of the Popular Defence Forces.
He stressed that the calm on the front with the rebels does not mean the disappearance of security threat or that the rebels changed their plans aiming to overthrow the regime, adding that the rebels plan to carry out new attacks and to extend the areas of conflicts.
Last May after the recapture of Abu Kershola by the Sudanese army, SRF rebels said they prepare a “plan B” and they intend to extend the field of attacks into new regions as part of their war of attrition before to attack the capital.
(ST)
