SPLA minister says South Sudan not concerned by hijacked weapons

By Manyang Mayom

October 3, 2008 (RUMBEK) — The Acting minister for the Sudan People’s Liberation Army Affairs has dismissed links with the weapons shipment hijacked by Somali gunmen since last week, saying it was not destined to southern Sudan.

Barnaba Marial Benjamin, who is also the Minister of Regional Cooperation, yesterday said the hijacked weapon shipment “has nothing to do with Southern Sudan, and that the shipment was not heading for, or for that matter is for Southern Sudan.”

Wednesday the Kenyan authorities arrested Andrew Mwangura, head of the East Africa Seafarers Assistance Program who was the first to report that the military shipment was destined to the Southern Sudan army.

However, different sources confirmed the claim since. Lt. Nathan Christensen, a deputy spokesman for the U.S. Navy’s Bahrain-based 5th Fleet also confirmed that the shipment of seized ship was destined to Sudan without further details.

SPLA Major General Byor Ajang denied since last week the news reports saying any connection with the hijacked cargo. “The SPLA did not have Russian weapons shipments that were on its way here through Kenya” Ajang said.

Benjamin underscored that if the shipment was allegedly belonging to the SPLA then the Government of Southern Sudan would not hide but come forward and claim it, because they are and would be legally entitled do so.

The United Nations imposes an arms embargo on weapons headed to Sudan’s Darfur conflict region. The ban does not cover other weapons sales to the governments in Khartoum or Juba.

However, in accordance with the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, weapons to South Sudan have to be approved first by the central government.

The ship is believed to be carrying 33 Russian-built T-72 tanks and a substantial quantity of ammunition and spare parts.

(ST)