Northern, southern Sudanese soldiers clashe in Abyei, 4 killed
May 14, 2008 (ABYEI, Sudan) — South Sudanese former rebels fought northern government forces on Wednesday in the disputed oil-rich Abyei region, killing up to four people and sending hundreds fleeing, south Sudanese and U.N. officials said.
Fighting began near the town of Abyei on Tuesday night, and on Wednesday heavy exchanges of machine gun and mortar fire could be heard from a U.N. base just outside the town in the north-south border zone, witnesses said.
“Abyei is burning. Cars are burning in the streets,” said Chris Johnson, a senior U.N. official in Abyei. “Clearly there will be a lot of people displaced.”
Witnesses said hundreds of civilians fled the fighting between northern forces and the former rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Army. Two helicopters evacuated some aid workers and non-essential U.N. staff from the area.
“Some of the SPLA soldiers and the Sudanese Armed Forces were fighting in the market,” said Moussa Malei, deputy administrator of Abyei, adding that two people were killed on Tuesday.
Analysts say that Abyei, often called the “Kashmir” of Sudan’s north-south conflict and coveted by both sides, could be the flash point to reignite civil war if its status is not resolved amicably and quickly.
Under a 2005 agreement that ended more than 20 years of north-south civil war, Abyei town is to be guarded by special joint units of northern and southern soldiers.
A U.N. official said fighting in Abyei had worsened on Wednesday after a Sudanese government soldier was killed. “That seemed to cause the escalation,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
A diplomatic source said the fighting had stemmed from an incident on Tuesday when SPLA forces detained a northern government soldier and some civilians, leading to an argument in which a northern soldier was shot.
The source said an SPLA soldier was killed on Wednesday: “There are gunshots in town, heavy gunfire and mortars.”
Commanders from both sides were meeting U.N. staff to resolve their issues, Malei said.
Sudan’s ruling National Congress Party accused former southern rebels in April of stirring up tensions in Abyei by unilaterally appointing a governor, saying it violated the north-south ceasefire.
South Sudan’s government at the time accused the northern army of sending troops into Abyei, capital of the state.
The deadlock over Abyei shows the difficulties implementing the north-south deal that ended a war which killed 2 million. The peace deal granted semi-autonomous status to south Sudan.
Under the 2005 peace accord residents of Abyei will chose to join the north or south in 2011, when the entire south will vote on secession from the north.
(Reuters)
Wise Man
Northern, southern Sudanese soldiers clashe in Abyei, 4 killed
Hahahahahahaha, Are you still trusting Arabs so you can send our soldliers to fight along arab’s soldliers in defeating JEM, Mr. Kiir? Think again bro! we will be next once JEM is defeated so you need to prepare for the next…..?
Juach D Juach
SPLA should look for an exit strategy out of the so called “United Sudan”
SPLA should be withdraw from Khartoum, Kiir resigns the FVP and declare a soveriegn state of New Cush headed by him. We can’t be asked to help em defend Khartoum and on the other hand they attack us back home. If there was to be a referendum now, i’d vote for severing ties with NCP led government and we drive our own highway to long a lasting freedom and stability.
Please reconsider the decision on SPLA’s defence of Khartoum because there is a need to defend Abyei as well …
doot
Northern, southern Sudanese soldiers clashe in Abyei, 4 killed
Can someone again support the decision of kiir to send south army to defend khartoum against JEM ?.I hope fools must support that, Kiir ‘s leadership lack political ambition and prosperity. kiir at his current level is diaster to south sudanese , i cannot imagine why the man do not learn from experiences . when he gone to washington to discuss the issue of borderline , he rejected the solution brought forward by general secretary of state (Rice ) to have the problem solved by the western diplomat . instead to have said the fact about the problems , he lied to the media that the remaining issues are to be solved within a minute by NCP and SPLA. Probabily not , when he come from washington , he sat back and proposed the new agendas which were parallel to the border demarcation and leave the issue unsolved . the question is where the kiir ‘s leadership heading to ?. south leadershp must have no direction at all, it is 3years from now when the goverment of south sudan was established but nothing has been done a part from holding the CPA signature .Iam deeply worry about the status of 2011 future, if we donot think about it and talk about it . I believe it is not quite expensive at this moment to look into the means and ways of get into Abyei soltuion rather then waiting ‘future” to solve it at the very “expensive cost”. To get solve the abyei problems , we need to be able to put core factors at hand , if not through peaceful negotiation why not through through military means.If we cann`t do anything about abyei at our curren level the next generations will forget to do it.
Wise Man
Northern, southern Sudanese soldiers clashe in Abyei, 4 killed
I sincerely believe, for those who were positively supporting Kiir in his dead decision of sending our troops to fight JEM will now be the first to firmly persuade Mr Kiir not to stick to his artlce which says SPLA TO SUPPORT SUDAN SECURITY OPERATION AGAINST DARFUR JEM.
Millions of people were killed protecting our interests. However, if you have decised Mr Kiir to colloborate with your Fathers’, mothers’, brothers’ and sisters’ killers then their souls are not dead and watching you bitterly without a tingle of an eye.
Abyei’s clashe is an apparently opposing message from God to Mr Kiir dead decision. We know you are a man Mr. Kiir and a man always does mistakes so this is just a first mistake done by you and it will never make us to turn our eyes and ears away from you but to make a solid correction for the future, we are still standing behind you. May God bless SPLA/M, South Sudan and her people?
Wise Man
Northern, southern Sudanese soldiers clashe in Abyei, 4 killed
Apologize to Durfur JEM, Mr. Kiir!
ochan stephen
Northern, southern Sudanese soldiers clashe in Abyei, 4 killed
It is not too late before I commended on the SPLA hypocrisy in claiming to energize their powers to couter react with JEM in favour of what they so call SAF.
The difference is the similarity. now what the hell is going on in Abyei!!!!… South sudan in then cursed by the holy ghost that penetrates every leader in the ministry.. when we say leave.. you instead chose the opposite. well, you may be wise and stupid at the sametime Mr.leaders. it’s more wise and logical to import leaders from overseas to revise colonialsim than being victimised at no cost.
Wilson Kur Lual
Northern, southern Sudanese soldiers clashe in Abyei, 4 killed
Ha, ha, haaaaaaa!!!!!!!!! very wise southern sudanese president yesterday was support to joint force against JEM and today is fighting between Arabs and SPLA so what do think? will it not be shame for you to change your words sounding like you want to please Arabs?
My friend, sons of south are committed only to die for south ,so please buy roboots from where no and joints hand with SAF to fight JEM but, we will die only for south like Abyei.
Santino Akot
Northern, southern Sudanese soldiers clashe in Abyei, 4 killed
I’m wondering if, president Salva Kiir know about the clashe between Northern, Southern Sudanese in Abyei?.
and judge the Northern Government under
president Basher to be trusted.
Now, it’s time for president Kiir to
learn from this Government of Sudan.
because his game against Southerners as
well as Darfur people is not over. If you don’t learn from now, you will llearn soon.
Also, as convention is on in the SPLA/M, consider that, If president Kiir is not yet achieve peace b/n North
and South, and he is supporting Basher
against Darfur. SPLA/M who fought this
Government for Years as the Southern people have right to choose any leader.If Salva Kiir is not willing to
do the jobs right for Southerners.
I don’t care. If that leader is from
any tribe. as long as he/she do the jobs for us in the South Sudan.
If you have question to me, that you
don’t agree to my point of view. tell me, why you don’t agree?. and We will keep going from there.
I’m from Dinka. and left Sudan since 1986 till last Years, I went back to Sudan.also seen Khartoum the first time
in my life since I was born in the South.
The truth is, We only need change of any kind in Sudan inorder to achieve peace. I hope you understand me.
Deng Akol Agut-tungdoun
Northern, southern Sudanese soldiers clashe in Abyei, 4 killed
Waaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!,
I knew it!!.
Now late me repeats my say to my brothers who never got me right yesterday. I told every user of this site on this same site yesterday that…
“THERE IS NO GOOD ARAB,THE GOOD ONE IS THE DEAD ONE,OF COURSE THAT DEAD ARAB IS NOT EVEN GOOD BECOUSE ONCE YOU DON’T HENDLE HIS REMINACE CAREFULLY IT CAN POISON YOU STRAIGHT AWAY.”
That is what I told any man who support the yesterday move by our beloves leader Mayardit,see now.
It is now crystal clear that they want plain war and nothing less than that, what are we to do now?.
My plain advise to the men in clean uniform (the SPLA)is that, these arabs or mundukuru are finish,what they are doing is just but the last kick,so once you handle them carefully, that will be their last kick,and we shall call that kick “the last kick of the dying dogs.”
Truely these dogs are only here to disturbs the clean Africans,thay must be deal with accordingly.
Long live the heroes of Africa,
Long live the SPLA.
Be bless.
THE GAME
Northern, southern Sudanese soldiers clashe in Abyei, 4 killed
President Kiir, Are unmoving of backing up and supporting national congress party?
Sir thinks several times regarding to support the ncp to set up their security system of Khartoum. You were going to send your troops of SPLA to fight our native brothers of JEM. However, SPLA and SAF troops are fighting in region of Abyei, will you be motionless set them SPLA troops to fights the JEM again?
I do not or none of us knows why you trusted our biggest enemies that slaughter our commanders, soldiers and leader Dr John Garang. You were presently trusted NCP within only immediately two or 3 years. Dr John Garang had been significant them for far too extensive and he does not even trust them at all even when dies on the July 2005. Did you read his (Dr John Garang) statement? “He say don’t ever trust the ncp, they are complicated citizens of SPLA/M and don’t let them punk you people”
I found what he has said DOCTOR John Garang was actually right but our new president of Southern Sudan did not seem to follow them.
kiir open your eye wide and learns some politics way that ncp tricks you by.
May god keep Garang knowledge life forever?
Wene_mangeth
Northern, southern Sudanese soldiers clashe in Abyei, 4 killed
AAAHH Bravo and fully stake victory to defend the trritory of Abyei there will be no accuse to you the SPLA because the land and her people of Abyei is the fruit of heritage.
be as strong and good warrior as you did in the past 20 years
Lual Dennis Deng Garang
Northern, southern Sudanese soldiers clashe in Abyei, 4 killed
be wise Mr PR, how can you say that SPLA will support SAF while they are Killing our dependance in abyei.
Delorias
Northern, southern Sudanese soldiers clashe in Abyei, 4 killed
$250,000 oil blood money…………..you don’t catch a snake on the tail and point it 2 your enemy and expect not 2 turn around and bit u /// get smarter.