Militiamen kill 76 people in South Sudan’s Jonglei
By Philip Thon Aleu
September 21, 2009 (BOR) — Seventy-Six people were confirmed dead and forty-six others injured on Sunday during an attack on Duk Padiet, home of Dinka Bor tribe; in South Sudan’s Jonglei by armed men that authorities described as militia members.
The Sunday raid in Duk County in Jonglei comes after series of similar attacks in recent months. A heavily armed militia allegedly headed by an adamant self-made commander Chibetek Mabil, a born from Lou Nuer, killed 47 civilians and 29 members of organized forces.
Among the dead military are 11 SPLA soldiers including a major, 11 National Security soldiers with their captain, 5 policemen and their commanding 1st Lieutenant and 2 prison officers.
NOT CATTLE RUSTLING
Sunday attack on Duk County is seen as an escalation in South Sudan tribal fighting which is generally considered to be driven by disputes over cattle, control of pasturage and revenge. However, UN and southern Sudan officials agree that the well equipped and organized force have other objectives.
The attackers who directed their guns to southern Sudan organized forces, burned down 260 huts, the police station and state buildings, said Mayen Ngor the Commissioner of Duk County.
UN Regional coordinator for Southern Sudan David Gressly, who visited Duk Padiet Monday with South Sudan internal Minister, Gier Chuang Aluong and Governor Kuol Manyang Juuk, says “it is quite a substantial attack on the town.” Mr. Gressly indicated that the situation is “basically calm.” He also said the UN will support South Sudan in it “efforts to contend the situation.”
Speaking to reporters at Bor airstrip today on his return from Duk Padiet with Minister Aloung and Gov Juuk, Mr. Gressly said the fight was not motivated by cattle.
“It seems to be different. Cattle were not there. It was more targeting” he said.
South Sudan interior minister Gier Chuang Aluong, on his part, described the Sunday incident as “very bad”.
“It does not look like [cattle raiding],” Mr. Aluong responded when asked adding: “Because there are no cattle in the town. We believe it is motivated or encouraged by elements we cannot pin-point,” he further added. The minister pledged a thorough investigation by the southern Sudan government.
Pressurized by journalists to explain what has been viewed as a slow response from Juba to Jonglei crisis, the internal affairs Minister said: “That is not true. It [South Sudan government] has been mobilizing and the state is moving.” He outlined the involvement of organized forces in Duk Padiet’s incident as South Sudan commitment to providing security.
Jonglei Gov. Kuol Manyang said “it is a very awful and destructive attack”. The attackers targeted government forces and killed 29 of them, this is “an attack against the government,” the governor said.
“Though they [attackers] could be termed as civilians, they had military formation; had uniform and carry new brand of G3 (Gimp three),”Gov. Kuol further said.
Speaking to Sudan Tribune early Monday, Deputy Gov. Hussein Mar said the militia, who are from his area, refused to listen when he convinced their leader Chibetek Mabil over phone conversation facilitated by local chiefs.
“After over a forty minutes conversation; trying to persuade him to cease this attack, he threw away the phone and told me to stop lectures,” Mr. Mar says.
The organization of militia was intercepted by government. Duk Padiet, the target of the attack was also known by authorities but failed to control the assault.
Little is known about the man leading militia from Lou Nuer. Chibetek Mabil is believed to be a former militia who never joined SPLA or Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) as stipulated in the peace accord between Khartoum led by National Congress Party (NCP) and former rebels the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A).
The Deputy Governor of Jonglei state said Chibetek “was part of gangsters who participated in looting of military equipments in Khorfulus last year”. This, he says, “is believed to the primary source of ammunitions.”
Sudan Tribune has not been able to independently verify this. Though this organization was known, logistic problem hammered effort to control them.
Inter/intra-tribal clashes are common in South Sudan over cattle and grazing land and other resources but attacks against administrative units are very rare. Last month, Wernyol in Twic East was attacked leaving more than 40 people dead but was preceded by another raid in Akobo by Murle killing 186.
With elections scheduled for next year and a vote for self-determination a year after, Southern Sudan authorities are facing a tough situation – a conflict of choices; with former foes in Khartoum seen as a threat and internal insecurity locally another emerging constraint.
(ST)