Salva Kiir says refused to withdraw troops far from south Sudan border
January 20, 2008 (JUBA, Sudan) — South Sudan has refused northern demands that its soldiers redeploy further south after clashes along the oil-rich border raised tensions between the former foes, South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir said on Sunday.
Kiir said both sides had agreed last year to withdraw to either side of the river Kiir, after four clashes between northern army-backed militias and the southern Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) along the border killed dozens.
Speaking at church on Sunday in semi-autonomous south Sudan’s capital Juba, he said Khartoum’s army had now told the southern armed forces to move another 50 km (30 miles) further south to the town of Aweil.
“Is Aweil the south Sudan border with the north? Nobody can accept that and of course we refused,” said Kiir, leader of former southern rebels who came to power after a 2005 peace deal that ended decades of war and created a national coalition government.
The team charged with demarcating the disputed north-south border, where much of Sudan’s oil wealth lies, is due to begin work in February. Under the deal, south Sudan should receive around 50 percent of revenues from oil wells in the south.
“(They) would want to push away the … SPLA so when the border committee comes they just draw the line where they may be directed by (Khartoum’s northern) National Congress Party,” said Kiir.
The clashes between the SPLA and the northern nomadic Misseriya tribe reignited fears for the fragile peace deal that also allows southerners to hold a referendum on independence in 2011. Khartoum denies any link with the fighting.
Kiir said the Misseriya, who traditionally travel south for dry season cattle grazing, have refused to disarm. But he said that like other southern tribes, the nomads could only cross into the south unarmed.
“The National Congress Party together with the Sudan Armed Forces would want them to be accepted to come to southern Sudan with arms,” he said. “If they come with their guns we will fight them.”
Kiir also the heavy weaponry carried by the Misseriya proved the northern army had provided them with arms.
During the civil war, successive northern governments armed tribes including the Misseriya to wage war in south Sudan. Many were not disarmed following the peace deal.
“We know all the guns being used by the Sudanese army, and these are the ones being used by the Misseriya and we will not accept that thing being imposed on us,” he said. “So we have still a problem to resolve with our partners.”
The north-south war claimed around 2 million lives and displaced another 4 million from their homes. Both sides have accused the other of violations of the peace deal but have pledged not to return to war.
(Reuters)
John Amule de Lokolong
Salva Kiir says refused to withdraw troops far from south Sudan border
lMr Kiir you should not say nomads in South will travel any where in south without attack unless otherwise they take propre control of their cattles,i want to remind you about the destruction that had happened in Western Equatoria how do you react in your view,did you smile,say sorry or promise them.We are one but we relay on different kinds of foods,beliefs and opinions for those who drink milk,they should not feed their animals with sameones foods.cattles are common every where,even in Western Equatoria but none of those people will allow his own animal to destroy ones property.for those nomadic Misseriya they should be on their side not crossing to south whether with arms nor without because southern people are nomadic they own cattles and they also need pasture for their proerties so we need clear boarder btn south and north to end the problems btn nomadic pastrolism.If those nomads were encourage by NCP as same are carrying heavy weapons then you have to be open in your eyes and respond to their behaviours in confidential way.you have power on your side of SPLA and people should be treated equally right from properties up to standard of employment.
John Amule de Lokolong
Salva Kiir says refused to withdraw troops far from south Sudan border
Mr Kiir you should not say nomads in South will travel any where in south without attack unless otherwise they take propre control of their cattles,i want to remind you about the destruction that had happened in Western Equatoria how do you react in your view,did you smile,say sorry or promise them.We are one but we relay on different kinds of foods,beliefs and opinions for those who drink milk,they should not feed their animals with sameones foods.cattles are common every where,even in Western Equatoria but none of those people will allow his own animal to destroy ones property.for those nomadic Misseriya they should be on their side not crossing to south whether with arms nor without because southern people are nomadic they own cattles and they also need pasture for their proerties so we need clear boarder btn south and north to end the problems btn nomadic pastrolism.If those nomads were encourage by NCP as same are carrying heavy weapons then you have to be open in your eyes and respond to their behaviours in confidential way.you have power on your side of SPLA and people should be treated equally right from properties up to standard of employment.
Lat Dak Nyaroah
Salva Kiir says refused to withdraw troops far from south Sudan border
Dear Mr. President Kiir,
We know very well that Misseriya people have so far been armed by Beshir so that they will be killing our brothers and sisters in Abyei and Aweil. I think the only options is to put enough SPLA troops in those areas or alternatively, the civilians living a long the borders should also be armed to protect themselves from their enemies.
Please, never ever be belind folded by Beshir and his allies with’good’words inorder to withdraw the SPLA troops from the border to the interior of South Sudan. If you will do it, that will be a great mistake. Let Beshir and his allies show us what we haven’t seen. But Beshir, I believe your conscience is telling you the repercussions of the trigger you are about to touch.
South Sudan Oyee!
SPLA Oyee!
SPLM Oyee!
Young People Oyee!
Lat Dak
Toposa Boy southerner
Salva Kiir says refused to withdraw troops far from south Sudan border
Mr. President never ever let those terrorist cross the border line now you see very clear that evil beshir trying new tactic to get ready of you and your splm all together
Duop Chak
Salva Kiir says refused to withdraw troops far from south Sudan border
For the sake of South Sudan security, it is just a fair decision.
Bol Madut
Salva Kiir says refused to withdraw troops far from south Sudan border
This may not sounds like a solution to some, but the only way to stop the constant incursion of the so-called Northern nomads into the South irrespectively is to re-armed the Southern civilians for self protection. The government of Bashir have not abandon (nor did they ever attempt to disarms) the arming of these nomads. The alternate way of balancing the imbalance is if both sides are equally powered.