Hundreds flee clashes in Malakal
By Manyang Mayom
January 12, 2009 (KHARTOUM) – Clashes near Malakal, the capital of Upper Nile state in central Sudan, have led over 300 inhabitants of Anakdiar village to flee their residence to Malakal town centre.
The inter-tribal fighting between the Shilluk group and three sub-tribes of Dinka—the Dinka Luac, Dingjol and Baliet—follows a major celebration in Malakal town hosting the heads of government of both North and South Sudan.
At stake is the issue of land ownership of Malakal, said Carlo James Chol, the secretary-general of the Fashoda Social and Benevolent Organization (FSBO).
The frightened civilians, mostly children and women, were received by local NGOs and kept in the Dar-Salam primary school in Malakal.
Chol explained that conflict broke out on Saturday at Anakdiar, at a distance of just 18 km from Malakal town. Eleven citizens were killed including one JIU soldier (JIUs are military units accorded a special status in Sudan’s interim constitution, being formed from the country’s two former warring rivals, SPLM and NCP) in a separate incident that took place at Malakia within Malakal on Sunday.
It is unclear whether this casualty figure is linked to the nine people reportedly killed Friday, but it appears that there was fighting over several days in different areas and the unconfirmed reports could be much higher. Several people are also seriously injured, including one JIU soldier.
Chol added that 180 houses were burnt down in Anakdiar and families are being displaced to Malakal since Saturday. Clashes also were reported in Alkanasiya Lou in Kodok area leading to displacement of residents to Malakal.
An official source said that there were two people reported killed when a bus was attacked by bandits on the Malakal–Renk road. The government of Upper Nile State has sent a joint force to restore security on the road. The official warned that continuation of the situation in Malakal might lead to other tribes being involved in the conflict.
Chol recalled that in 2004, the Shilluk Community wrote a complaint letter to late SPLM leader Dr. John Garang De Mabior about land ownership of Malakal and Garang responded positively to the community, acknowledging that the land belonged to the Shilluk community indeed also that the Dinka shared water with Shilluk community because both communities belonged to Southern Sudan and they are all pastoralist societies.
Sudan’s ruling party, the National Congress Party (NCP), has called for a joint mechanism to control the insecurity in the southern Sudan’s states. In a telephone interview, the NCP southern sector spokesman, Khamis Haggar, said that there is insecurity in the whole of south Sudan and if the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) fails to maintain the security the two main partners in the government of southern Sudan, the NCP and SPLM, should form a joint mechanism to face the insecurity there.
Haggar revealed that the NCP in South Sudan only participates in the security and intelligence organ but not in the army and police, so the question of security is the responsibility of the SPLM.
He noted that firearms have spread among the civilians in the South Sudan and that the insecurity shows that people do not respect the law. Those holding guns illegally in Southern Sudan’s bush country need to be disarmed in combination of a multiparty partnership between the NCP and SPLM, he asserted.
For now, fighting may have subsided. “The situation today is calm,” Chol updated Sudan Tribune on Monday.
(ST)
Issac William
Hundreds flee clashes in Malakal
I am really worried about the way the politicians were tapping into the emotions of their tribe with no consideration to the imminent danger they are creating to Southerner. Despite the increase in profits from our oil, excessive borrowing began to be the normal way for Dinka tribe to do business. It was understood that if you wanted to go along with this, you must remain silent. The use of double dipping became the standard. Excellent jobs never should have been offered to non-Dinka only to member of their families or you happen to marry Dinka girl perhaps you can be a commander.
This pattern of exploitation of tribalism to obtain maximum profits for the tribal corporation destroyed the opportunity to build a truly liberated state of ours. The fact that nearly a generation of this exploitation took place means we will have to go another generation with a whole new ideal. We need expertise and oversight. We need oversight of the overseers. And we have to stop borrowing. Change normally takes place in small steps but right now we are heading for some big changes and unless we change our attitude nothing will happen.
These contracts were given to family and friend to increase the loyalty of those who did not care that it was the “members” (YOUR) money that was being spent and being put at risk. Even the Land Claims money is being spent to support personal projects. We are supposed to build our military because the war is not over yet. Members of this government have build hotels for themselves using government funds and called them gold to advance our cost. It is nothing but a piece of crap and fool’s gold.
This time around we need a good leader. We need to have someone strong, charismatic and inspiring. Someone who is ready to walk the extra mile, someone with brains, someone courageous enough to take decisions without worrying about the next elections, someone iconic, someone who the educated youth can relate to, someone who speaks the language of the masses and understands their problems and someone who can inspire the whale nation to work for its betterment.
As usual the criminals, thugs and bandits, foolish tribe, unashamed looter who best benefit under such lawless will pay the price this time. It’s always unfortunate that evil sentimentalists have been going around inciting the mad killers to hunt down and slaughter members of other tribes who opposed the chosen one( Mr. (Kiir) of their tribe).
What the heck wipe out an enemy kill them and their families, and show them that the terror they inflict on the other tribes will come home to roost and will be inflicted on them. What do you do when your house is infested with cockroaches? You kill them, period. It is a form of resistance that when a groups of people believe that their security is threaten they are required to defend themselves. This monster armchair cowboy Mr. President Kirr who draws his policy attitudes from video games has not spoken since the killing took place in Malakal and he never intervened when it comes to his tribe (Dinkaweed). “We are born to rule” this type of attitude is common among “Dinka”. When someone suggested that we should make an effort to identify the guilty parties, they called him anti-Dinka and said that it didn’t matter. After all, they are just cow heads and deck headed…killed them all. I actually had one fine fellow say, “Well, somebody has to pay for their action this is a self-defense”. How do you call killing innocent people that is acting in defense? This is an attack on other tribe not self defense dim ass.
We sadly live in an EXTREMELY PREVERSE society that thrives and loves to watch violence, and other obscene things. When did violence and killing innocent, or being involved with the mafia become considered an “accomplishment” and something to pat someone on the back for, regardless of their color. It’s true that their stated goals are quite clearly to establish Dinkaweed rule over other tribes.
Growing up on that part of the world, I saw the good the bad and the ugly? We have seen Liberia, Sierra Leone and now Kenya. It’s like a plague with those who are not yet infected thinking that they might be safe. But what had happened in Kenya and in some African nations before and without a doubt will happen right here. It’s too bad that Dinkweed still have the same backward mentality. It’s therefore imperative that we come to term with tribal politics and work towards closing its chapter in our societies.
Angelo M
Hundreds flee clashes in Malakal
This is a foolish fighting- both sides. Completely ridiculous and anybody wise should not take part in it. Why kill each other’s cousin?
Gatwech
Hundreds flee clashes in Malakal
To all Dinkaweeds,
Don’t create Rwanda situation in South Sudan, I beg you!!!
It is the Dinka-weed who have been traitors in the South since time memorial, then British and now dealing with Arabs. In 1947 Juba Conference, Dinka chiefs were bribed by Arabs with sugar and salt to oppose the decision for the South to self-govern. They did not participate in war agains the British but were used by the British to betray the rest of Southerners. During the Jalaba (Arab) dominated government in Khartoum, they have been faithfully playing the game of stooges. They chose to act like chameleons and hyenas in the South. Abel Alier was given the post of Sudan’s Vice President to do nothing but betray the South and implement Arab projects like the Jonglei Canal. George Kongor, another Vice President who was incompetent like Salva Kiir was also given the post to betray the South. Moses Machar was also a Dinka as Vice President of Arab government for that purpose. Late John Garang was told to confuse the aspiration of the people of Southern Sudan to do business with the deadly project of united sudan, not self-determination, until the two Drs. Riek Machar and Lam Akol corrected the deadly mistake and worked for the interest of their people (Southerners). They used every possible tactic and strategy to get the most hidden objective, self-determination through referendum and managed to rally all political forces including NCP and Garang’s SPLM faction to finally accept it. Hon. James Wani Igga was also doing good as a separatist at heart, but Salva Kiir was dragged and still being dragged by Omer alBashir who blackmailed him into not being clear on the direction of his people (separation or unity).
Now the Dinkaweed are playing the interest of Jalaba (Arabs) by stealing the GOSS money, no development and causing insecurity in the South, which the Arabs project for them. But what the fools do not know is that when their dooms day or judgement day on them by the Southerners come, no Arab’s ass will come to their rescue. My greedy cousins, you are playing fire and your future. You will not all run to Australia, Kampala, Nairobi, etc., may be only those who have already ran to with millions of dollars like Stephen Baak to London. Don’t provoke the situation by causing tribal fighting in implementing the Jalaba’s project. It is dangerous and you may not have time to regret it!!!!
Gatwech
Hundreds flee clashes in Malakal
To all Dinkaweed,
Don’t create a Rwanda kind of situation in the South, I beg you!!!
It is you, the Dinka-weed who have been traitors in the South since time immemorial, then British and now dealing with Arabs. In 1947 Juba Conference, Dinka chiefs were bribed by Arabs with sugar and salt to oppose the decision for the South to self-govern. They did not participate in war agains the British but were used by the British to betray the rest of Southerners. During the Jalaba (Arab) dominated government in Khartoum, they have been faithfully playing the game of stooges. They chose to act like chameleons and hyenas in the South. Abel Alier was given the post of Sudan’s Vice President to do nothing but betray the South and implement Arab projects like the Jonglei Canal. George Kongor, another Vice President who was incompetent like Salva Kiir was also given the post to betray the South. Moses Machar was also a Dinka as Vice President of Arab government for that purpose. Late John Garang was told to confuse the aspiration of the people of Southern Sudan to do business with the deadly project of united sudan, not self-determination, until the two Drs. Riek Machar and Lam Akol corrected the deadly mistake and worked for the interest of their people (Southerners). They used every possible tactic and strategy to get the most hidden objective, self-determination through referendum and managed to rally all political forces including NCP and Garang’s SPLM faction to finally accept it. Hon. James Wani Igga was also doing good as a separatist at heart, but Salva Kiir was dragged and still being dragged by Omer alBashir who blackmailed him into not being clear on the direction of his people (separation or unity).
Now the Dinkaweed are playing the interest of Jalaba (Arabs) by stealing the GOSS money, no development and causing insecurity in the South, which the Arabs project for them. But what the fools do not know is that when their dooms day or judgement day on them by the Southerners come, no Arab’s ass will come to their rescue. My greedy cousins, you are playing fire and your future. You will not all run to Australia, Kampala, Nairobi, etc., may be only those who have already ran to with millions of dollars like Stephen Baak to London. Don’t provoke the situation by causing tribal fighting in implementing the Jalaba’s project. It is dangerous and you may not have time to regret it!!!!