Three dead in Reizigat attack on Mile 14, says official

By Bonifacio Taban Kuich

March 27, 2013 (JUBA) – Members of Sudan’s nomadic Arab Reizigat tribe have launched a deadly attack on South Sudanese civilians in the disputed Mile 14 territory in North Bahr-el-Gazal on Tuesday.

However, authorities in Juba say police have now restored calm in the area.

The incident is the first to occur since the South Sudanese army (SPLA) withdrew its troops from the area as part of the conditions of a cooperation agreement it signed
with its northern neighbour earlier this month which called on both sides to withdraw their troops 10km either side of the contested border.

Police in South Sudan say they hold grave concerns for security in the area following the loss of their two colleagues.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday in Juba, police spokesman Col. James Monday Enoka called on the African Union (AU) to take action, saying the deadly incident had occurred just two weeks after the SPLA’s withdrawal from Mile 14.

“It is very unfortunate that the Reizigat took advantage of [the] withdrawal of the SPLA from the area and launch[ed] the attack,” he said.

“[The] South Sudan National Police Services strongly condemns this attack and appeals to the African Union monitoring and verification teams to take action”, he added.

Enoka said police had learned from the recent attack by Sudanese tribesmen, saying they were committed to carrying out their mandate of protecting the lives of citizens following the peace agreement between the two Sudans and during its implementation.

“The South Sudan National Police Services is committed to its mandates of providing security to the people of [the] Republic of South Sudan,” he said. “South Sudan National Police Services is also committed [to] the implementation of the cooperation agreement and [in] regard to the internal security. It is in light of this agreement that police were deployed at Mile 14 to protect the civilian population after the withdrawal of the SPLA”, Enoka added while briefing journalists in Juba.

However, Police say border areas remained a target of frequent attacks by nomadic groups from Sudan when they cross the border to graze their cattle.

Last month a similar attack occurred in Unity State after Sudanese nomads from the Misseriya group in launched an attack in Mayom county prior to the signing of the cooperation pact.

Three people were reportedly killed and five others wounded, while nearly 200 head of cattle stolen was stolen in the incident.

Host communities of in Mayom county and Misseriya tribal chiefs have agreed that any “violation to the inked document will led to compensation one party”, with the Misseriya already handing over 140 head of cattle to Mayom authorities as part of the agreement.

(ST)