TEXT- Sudanese army clarifies its position on Malakal clashes
Dec 3, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — Following is the text of a statement by the official spokesman of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) on the recent armed clashes in Malakal.
Free citizens: no doubt you have been closely watching the events in Malakal and in order to give you the true picture, we clarify the following facts:
1) The events started on 23 November against the background of a dispute between Maj-Gen Gabriel who is affiliated to the SAF and Brig John Malut, affiliated to Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), a dispute which resulted in firing of live ammunition, in most parts of the town.
2) On 28 November, the SPLA deployed its forces very near to the fence of the Military Command of Upper Nile area in Malakal and Maj-Gen Gabriel was subsequently withdrawn and transported to Khartoum in execution of a decision taken by the state’s security committee in order to prevent bloodshed.
However, despite all that, the SPLA attacked the military command but was driven back, and it attacked once more at 8 p.m. on the same day, but the joint forces were withdrawn from the military command to the northern sector after sustaining losses in lives. Five officers belonging to the joint forces were killed, one a colonel belonging to the peacekeeping forces along with 33 from other ranks.
Following that, the governor took a decision to withdraw the SPLA force in the town to their locations and impose a curfew and carry on with joint military patrols in order to calm the situation.
3) On 29 November, a delegation of the SPLM left Juba to Malakal and made orders to stop firing, fighting and any movement. A UN delegation also visited the military command to assess the losses.
4) Citizens: on the same day, 29 November, the Joint Military Commission for Cease-Fire Monitoring held a meeting in Malakal and decided the following: A. Immediate stoppage of firing; B. Cessation of hostilities; C. Separation and disengagement of forces; D. All forces should return to their previous locations before the start of events within six hours; E. All SPLA forces which entered the town should leave.
Free citizens: We assure you that the situation in Malakal is calm and that we are keen to implement all terms of the security arrangements as stated in the Naivasha Agreement and to work to maintain the unity of Sudan. Allah is the Greatest and dignity for Sudan.
Brig Dr Osman Mohammed Alaghbash,
Official Spokesman for the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).
(Khartoum Monitor)