Deadly clashes in Sudan’s Abyei spark tension at the borderlines

By Ngor Arol Garang

July 5, 2010 (KHARTOUM) — Tensions at the North -South border town of Abyei are high, as police forces at Tajlei, in the extreme north of the area have on Monday confirmed exchanging gunfire along the volatile frontline with armed groups associated with members of Messeriya tribe in the northern state of Southern Kordofan in central Sudan.

Two police soldiers have been confirmed killed and four others wounded in a critical condition. The attack which reportedly occurred at 7 a.m. has also sent away hundreds of residents fleeing the area hence leaving it a no go area turning it into a military operation zone.

No casualties were confirmed on the other side. However, Idris Dudu, a member of the Messeriya Tribe in Khartoum said he has heard of the plan but cannot confirm.

“I cannot confirm because what I have heard may be different. I suppose some members were planning going to where their cattle were stolen. I thought that was Unity state because that was where I have heard some cattle were stolen. I did not know anything about Abyei,” he said declining to give further comments.

The armed confrontation at the borderline just one day before the expected arrival of the former South African president, Thabo Mbeki, to the area for situational visit and talks with local leaders in Abyei, serves as a reminder of the flashpoints that a region still has to resolve as the country prepares to conduct referendum in the area.

Tentatively scheduled to visit the area on Tuesday, as member of the CPA Assessment and Evaluation Committee, Mbeki who chairs the AU Panel on Sudan, is expected to hold talks with local council, chief administrator, Deng Arop Kuol ,his deputy, Rahma Abdurrahman, chiefs and representatives of youth and women groups.

In an interview with Sudan Tribune, Deng confirmed the clash, describing it as a politically motivated act to provoke return of war between the two political parties.

“I confirmed to you that there was another fresh attack in the area at Tajlei this morning, just in the early hours before I arrived back to Abyei,” said Deng Arop Kuol, chief administrator of the area.

The official said his return to the area after visiting the two powerful capitals of Khartoum and Juba coincides with the attack.

“I just returned from Khartoum and Juba where I attended and participated in a series of political meetings held between the two parties on Abyei referendum commission, [only] to find that a village hosting police post at Tajlei, has again been attacked,” he said

“This is a politically motivated act with intention to provoke return to war between the two parties, because it was just three weeks ago that the similar attack occurred in Maker Abior at the same line, leaving one dead and wounded another. Today they again attacked and killed two more police personnel and wounded four. It was at seven o’clock this morning when they attacked the area,” he said.

Many residents from Abyei interviewed by Sudan Tribune also confirmed the incident and added that this occurred after the raid of Marial Achak in which over 286 goats were driven away by armed men allegedly traced and identified as members of Messeriya tribe last week.

Meanwhile UN officials in the area told Sudan Tribune that the clash coincided with peaceful demonstration in the town on Monday.

“The clash between the two armed groups today coincided with a demonstration in the town calling on presidency to immediately form Abyei referendum commission,” said UN official who declined to be named.

“The whole town came to our camp chanting anti government slogans and calling for immediate formation of Abyei referendum commission and handed over to our head of office a copy of memo outlining some of their grievances,” he added, describing it as a huge crowd.

“It was huge. Very big crowd indeed because it looked like the whole Abyei town at the gate of our camp, all senior government officials were there. It seemed they must have come from somewhere purposely for this because I could see all including children and elderly people being led by their walking sticks,” he described.

Many fear that the seemingly renewing of long-running disputes between Messeriya tribes and Ngok Dinka over land, oil and power could lead to Sudan’s next major conflict as the territorial bloodshed unleashed after the deadly 2008 May incident between the North and South armies over the control of the town.

(ST)