Civilians flee clashes in Sudan’s disputed area
May 15, 2008 (ABYEI) — Thousands of civilians fled clashes between northern and southern Sudanese armies in the oil-rich central town of Abyei on Thursday.
The clashes, sparked by a local dispute, highlight the tension in an area claimed by both Khartoum and South Sudan. More than three years after a 2005 peace deal, they have not agreed on borders or a local government for the region.
Sporadic gunfire could be heard on the second day of clashes and smoke rose from the town.
“Most of the civilians have left town. There are about 25,000 east of Abyei,” said Malony Tong, a local official from the former southern rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM). “It is not calm”.
Around 50 civilians sought refuge at the gates of the U.N. peacekeeping compound and were eventually allowed to enter. International U.N. staff were being evacuated.
Musa Malei, deputy administrator of Abyei, said the two sides had agreed to deploy joint units to the centre of town to act as a buffer between the two sides.
“The orders have been given for the JIUs (joint integrated units) to go into the middle of town,” he said. But as the high-level meeting between the former north-south foes ended, heavy shelling could be heard.
Tensions have been high for months between South Sudan and Khartoum over delays in implementing the 2005 peace deal. Each side accuses the other of stalling.
But despite the clashes in Abyei, north-south relations have improved markedly since an unprecedented attack by Darfur rebels on Khartoum at the weekend, when South Sudan offered military help to the government.
Also, the U.N. announced today it had evacuated civilian staff from Abyei
following the eruption of clahses between the former foes.
“We evacuated all our staff over the last 36 hours, that is around 259 people,” U.N. spokesman Khaled Mansour said in Khartoum. “This is all our civilian international staff and most of the national staff.
“We still have around 400 people on the ground,” said Mansour. They include five Sudanese staff who opted to stay and hundreds of U.N. peacekeepers, mainly Zambian soldiers.
The 2005 peace deal did not cover Sudan’s western Darfur region, where war broke out in 2003.
Clashes along the north-south border have continued despite the 2005 accord and have killed hundreds of people in the past year. A lack of discipline among ex-rebels and pro-Khartoum militias means fighting can easily flare up.
(ST)
Some information for this report provided by AFP and Reuters
Deng Arop Mading
Civilians flee clashes in Sudan’s disputed area
In regards to the statement made in this article, it made me suspicious and think of what does NCP/Jalaba want in Abyei land, as it is stated that Abyei is Geographical located in the Central of Sudan, therefore Abyei doesn’t belong to north nor South, of course that is why it protocol was signed differently and should have to be implemented simuletanousily with the South Sudan/North Protocol, Yaa Jalaba, it is better to give the native of the area their right as spell out in the Abyei protocol to decide for themselves where should they belong. it is not by force, otherwise force ideology of Arabs will never work in this land of Sudd (black) and don’t polish yourself yaa Bashir with black shoe polish and claim you are Sudanese.you have no grand- grand pa tomb in this vast land of Sudd. these can even lead to elimination of the junta (Arab) in Sudan. Abyei people will never give in for the forcefully mean to conquered it rich land. this is the time we people of Abyei should focus and solidily unite to combat the external aggression from any regime and put in mind that the presidency lead by Power mongers Kaffir Omer Din Bashir will never help to implement Abyei protocol. rather we should be prepare and take arm against the Junta. there is no way at all that our women and children can be suffering at all time and somebody is just there in Khartoum celebrating it. we have the power to invade Khartoum as well JEM did it. and eliminate this Junta who don’t care about the suffering the people he selfishly claim to be leading.
Can abyei people decide as of now, before the SPLM Convention is over and to put it as Point of Concern abyei issued. so that we can know and be on clear picture of the support we are getting for South Sudan Government. are the people of South Sudan and the Kiir leadership supporting enough the people Abyei with all their commitment and he put this morning that people of Abyei should not be deprived of their right? yet the convention is going on, who will protect Abyei people from being deprive if not you and the SPLM/A?
it is supprisingly that the convention was post pone during the JEM Assualt on Khartoum, why not post pone during the crisis of Abyei, yet the town has been distroyed and civilian hiding in the forest with no food,no water and shelter.
You Abyei leaders in Kiir’s regime, think critical on this move and analyse it, it a big blows to you at the Southerners eyes. if your own town could be down to ashes and you are just there attending the convention. are you serious, charity begin at home. this is why Dr. Lam is always strong and will never be unpopular in shilluk kingdom, becuase he doesn’t care of the position when coming to the affairs of Shilluk kingdom. If Kiir’s and it Government doesn’t solve this issued of Abyei with it’s partners NCP the Bashir briefcase amicably, then what are you waiting, power in the GOSS, it better to Allied with JEM and destroyed the Junta administration period.
What JEM did in Khatoum will remain in the History of Sudan. i wish them good luck next time. let me quote what comrade kiir was saying that SPLA will cooperate with SAF in defending the soverienity of Sudan, is Khartoum the Soverienity of Sudan including South Sudan? why didn’t SAF protect the Soverienity of Sudan when it happening in South Sudan? let us not be blindfold by the Arabs.it was just yesterday you were in Khartoum condenming JEM and today is in Abyei and you have not condemn SAF. what is so special with SAF.
it is really bitter thing one would keep in heart and hope to execute in future. Abyei will never accomodate us with the Missiriyia, even if God comes down from Heaven to resolve this issued in win – win solution. Abyei Youth it is time you should revolt against this depression, we can not be IDPs in our own country upto the end of the world, they (misiriyia)and NCP either conquered it by force and we take refugee outside the Country, if we are defeated, otherwise Misiriyia should be out of the Abyei Land. we have nothing in common as they might best claims for the interest of having access to the pasture and water. Abyei belong to Ngok Dinka and it is only for Ngok Dinka period.
any invasion mean attacking the soverienity of people of Central/South Sudan. BIG NO TO NORTH SUDAN.
‘Total destruction is the only mean to freedom’
Wilson Kur Lual
Civilians flee clashes in Sudan’s disputed area
It is very late this time for our people to be dsiplaced again. clear out the shit over the area and let people resume their life normal.
fight them again.