SPLM says Sudan ruling party supporting southern militia
Dec 7, 2006 (JUBA) — The Secretary General of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, (SPLM) has accused the ruling National Congress Party of supporting the Southern Sudan militia; adding that responsible must be brought to justice.
Speaking to journalists at Juba Airport on his way to Malakal, Pagan Amum also accused the ruling National Congress Party and the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) of continuing to support militia groups in southern Sudan.
He termed the recent clashes as “unfortunate” and called on the Government of Southern Sudan and the SPLM to work with the NCP to stop militia groups that — he says — are destabilizing southern Sudan.
“This is very unfortunate, definitely what happened is a serious violation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement by the SAF and the national congress party for continuing to support tribal militia groups after the 9th of January 2006 which was a date set to bring to an end any existence of armed groups in southern Sudan. The fact that they still support them has resulted into this fighting”.
Amum added that those responsible for recent clashes in Malakal and other parts of southern Sudan “must be brought to justice.”
He also termed recent clashes between the SPLA and the Sudan Armed Forces as a “serious violation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.”
The clashes, in which the United Nations says at least 150 people were killed, was the heaviest between the military wing of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM/A) and the forces of the central Khartoum government since they signed a peace deal last year and ended a 21-year civil war.
They have added to the tension between the former foes, already rising since the SPLA arrested 15 members of the northern Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) in October on suspicion of carrying out attacks around Juba, the capital of southern Sudan.
(ST)