SPLM accuses Sudan Armed Forces of backing clashes in Abyei

By Ngor Arol Garang

March 02 2011 (WAU) – The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement(SPLM), ruling party of South Sudan, on Wednesday accused the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF), controlled by Khartoum, of participating in the ongoing fighting in the contested region of Abyei between the rival tribes of the Dinka Ngok and the Arab nomadic Misseriya tribe.

Fighting in oil-producing Abyei began on Sunday 27 and continued on Monday 28 in Todach. Todach is a village inside a territorial boundary of Abyei, according to the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands, in 2009.

Abyei was due to hold a vote in January to decide whether it would join the soon-to-be-independent South, or remain in North Sudan. The vote delayed as the SPLM refused to accept the demand by Sudan’s ruling National Congress Party (NCP), that the Misseriya be allowed to take part in the vote. The SPLM maintain that the Dinka Ngok are the only people who should be accorded voting rights.

The first attack on Sunday was reportedly launched by members of the Misseriya tribe identified as Awalad Mozakina, on civilian settlements and local police post in the area. Initial reports from both sides indicates 15 people were killed and 4 others sustained injuries. On Monday 28, more than 30 others were reported to have been killed and over 26 wounded.

While the SPLM claimed that the Sunday attack was initiated by members of Mozakina branch of the Misseriya. The Monday attack, the SPLM claimed was staged by Awalad Kamil, another section of Misseriya tribe believed to be the largest clan. There was no reported fighting on Tuesday, 1 March, as both sides prepared and regrouped seemingly anticipating further confrontations.

Fighting resumed on Wednesday at Maker Abior village to the extreme north west of Abyei town, reportedly resulting in more deaths and wounded. The Wednesday attack extended to Yura, a village approximately eight miles from Abyei town, was alleged to have been organized by the Sudan Armed Forces in participation of Popular Defense Forces (PDF) many of whom as from the Awalad Umaran, section of the Misseriya.

Though the clash is linked to territorial rivalry between the two tribes, leaders of the Misseriya in an interview with Sudan Tribune on Monday 28 February, claimed that their cattle were blocked from moving further south into Abyei along their traditional grazing routes. The Misseriya leaders said that their cattle herders had been prevented from moving further south by armed Dinka Ngok groups.

Locals and officials from the area have denied that the herders were blocked and accused the Misseriya of initiating the attacks on police posts in the area.

“Nobody is blocking them if this is what you may have been told by the Misseriya. They have never been blocked from entering further south for water and grazing. They are the ones who voluntarily decided to pull out from the area upon receiving orders from their leaders to evacuate the area so that they could launch their attacks”, said Deng Abiem, a member of State Legislative Assembly representing Abyei in Warrap state, which is in South Sudan.

“The people of Abyei have never stopped Missiriya from passing through the area ever since they started seeking water and pastures south of the area because there is no reason to deny their cattle access water and pastures. We regard them as our neighbors and it is our principle to respect and live peacefully with our neighbors”, Abiem said.

Abiem described the Misseriya as a “difficult” group who do not know their interest and the importance and actual meaning of peaceful coexistence.

“They are difficult people who do not know where their interest is. When we were children, they would send messages and talks of peaceful of coexistence when it is time to come with their cattle. These talks are never followed when they are returning after the grazing season”, said Abiem.

Juac Agok, a senior member of the SPLM from the area, in an interview with Sudan Tribune from Juba, on Wednesday, accused Khartoum’s SAF of staging the latest attack in the area.

“Yes, was there another heavy attack in Maker Abior today at around 10 o’clock this morning and Yura by the Sudan Armed Forces in support of Popular Defense Forces and pro government militiamen from Misseriya.”

“It was one of the heaviest attacks because I am told they came with heavy machine guns mounted on vehicles. The attackers were also using mortars, RPG and tanks,” said Agok.

“This shows that the attack was launched by the Sudan Armed Forces because there are no civilians possessing such modern weapons like tanks. Tanks are purely part of heavy weapons of regular forces”, the SPLM’s deputy chairman in the area said.

He criticized presence of joint units of SPLA and SAF forces in the area. The Joint Integrated Unit’s were established as part of the 2005 peace deal that gave the South the right to secede, which it took in January, and gave Abyei the right to decide its future. Agok described the talks between the two parties, which have been resumed Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, as a “waste of time”.

“The Joint Integrated Units, in the area are doing nothing. They were 100 meters away from police when members of the Missiriya staged the attack on Sunday 27. They were also in Maker Abior today when the village was attacked by the Sudan Armed Forces in the company of their militias. What did they do? Nothing”, said Agok during a telephone interview with Sudan Tribune from Juba.

Colonel Phillip Aguer Panyang, SPLA spokesman also accused the northern Sudanese army of taking part in the ongoing fighting in the area.

“Regrettably, we are receiving reports that the north of Abyei has been under heavy attacks by the Sudan Armed Forces since Sunday in support to the Popular Defense force and the pro government militia from Misseriya. This is unacceptable”, said Aguer

“As SPLA we do not have physical presence in or around Abyei town, our forces are outside of Abyei in line with Abyei Roadmap. They are in the far south of the town. We do not have any role there. Our role as army is to bring to the international community and the two parties to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement that the conflict in Abyei has not been resolved”, said Colonel Aguer in a statement on South Sudan Television.

Rahma Abdul Rahman, a deputy Abyei chief administrator, told with Sudan Tribune from Abyei, that addressing the issue as a matter of priority.

“We are engaging the higher authority especially the presidency to ensure this issue is given immediate attention as one of the priorities”, said Rahma, declining to comment on the latest incidents.

(ST)