SSDF militia warns of revenge killings between SPLA soldiers

April 10, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — The Southern Sudan Defence Forces (SSDF) has warned of the consequences of any escalation resulting from the clashes, which occurred in the military area in Wau town — capital of west Bahr al-Ghazal, southern Sudan — recently between members of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) forces which led to the death of five Dinka tribesmen.

The SSDF denied it was involved in the incidents which it described as a tribal matter between the Dinka and Nuer ethnic communities.

Deputy SSDF leader Maj-Gen Al-Nur al-Tom Daldum revealed that the clashes had broken out between Dinka and Nuer, when the latter had complained about low wages.

Daldum, whose forces are based in the area, said that the incidents had lead to the death of five people from the Dinka tribe in addition to a number of other deaths on the eastern bank in Wau town.

Daldum warned that the incidents could be the beginning of a tribal conflict because the two tribes would seek to avenge themselves for the deaths.

He pointed out that the final solution to the problem would be to permanently send away Nuer from the area and transfer them to other areas.

Daldum strongly denied that his forces based in the region had anything to do with the incidents. He said the clashes were between SPLA forces and others which had recently joined them because those who had joined complained that their wages were less than those paid to the SPLA soldiers.

(ST)