African Union praises Sudanese efforts to halt Malakal fighting
February 27, 2009 (ADDIS ABABA) — Jean Ping, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission praised the joint efforts exerted by the two partners of the Sudanese government to contain the clashes that had broke up in the capital of Upper Nile State.
Clashes erupted on February 24 between the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) and former members of a militia led by Gen. Gabriel Tang who are now part of the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) when the SPLA tried to arrest the general upon his arrival to Malakal.
The government of national unity dispatched a joint delegation led by GOSS Vice-President Riek Machar who succeeded to stop the fighting and General Tang returned to Khartoum.
50 people were killed while other 100 wounded, the United Nations mission said today.
In a press release issued today, Ping “commended the leadership of the Sudanese parties for the manner in which they swiftly dispatched a high level delegation in order to defuse the situation on the ground.”
The clashes coincided with the meeting held in Juba of the Sudanese presidency which decided to immediately send the delegation to Malakal.
However Ping “encouraged” the two parties to ensure that the Joint Integrated Units begin to work coherently as provided in the 2005 peace agreement. He further “advised” that “the JIUs should demonstrate tolerance and uphold their professional obligations.”
Ashraf Qazi, the UN envoy to Sudan, urged the Sudanese parties on February 24 to halt the fighting adding that said it is particularly important for the military leadership of the SAF and the SPLA to ensure that the Joint Integrated Units (JIUs) – which are combined SAF and SPLA forces – fulfilled their function as integrated units working together to protect civilians.
In a recent report to the UN Security Council, Ban Ki-Moon the UN Secretary General, warned that four years after the signing of the CPA, the overall security situation remains fragile and unpredictable as a 2011 referendum looms on whether the South should secede or remain united with the rest of the country.
(ST)
Gatwech
African Union praises Sudanese efforts to halt Malakal fighting
God bless Riek Machar,
Bravo Dr. Machar for stopping the fighting which would have spread or escalate to other areas with very high prices in terms of human life and future of CPA. I thank Jean Ping, the Chairperson of the African Union for praising your efforts. This man knows nothing about tribal hatred and jealousy that is the order of the day where tribal thugs in Sudan do not praise or appreciate efforts of their leaders who come from other tribes. But a foreign leader like you would express his true feeling, which cannot be expressed by some Machar’s colleagues here in South Sudan simply because of jealousy towards his hard won achievements.