Juba dismisses rebel claims, says Khartoum covering Abyei killing
May 12, 2013 (JUBA) – South Sudan on Sunday dismissed Sudanese government claims that it provides support to rebels opposed to Khartoum regime, saying that the allegations are an attempt to cover-up the recent killing of tribal leader in Abyei.
The claims by the government of Sudan are attempts to cover up the killing of the paramount chief of Abyei, he added.
Kuol Deng Majok, the paramount chief the Dinka Ngok and personnel from the United Nation Peacekeeping Force in Abyei (UNISFA) were killed when armed Arab nomads attacked their convoy in the disputed region, last week.
World bodies and individual nations, including the US, strongly condemned the killing and called for investigations into the matter, seen as a blow in efforts to restore the previously strained relations between Sudan and South Sudan.
Marial said the allegations made by Khartoum comes as a “surprise”, given that the latter recently de-linked South Sudan from any involvement in rebel activities within the northern territories.
“It was the government of Sudan which came out to dismiss and telling their press in Khartoum that we have no link to the rebel attack in the North and South Kordofan. Now they are turning around and make these unfounded allegations”, Marial told reporters in the capital, Juba.
He said it was the Sudanese government supporting militia groups, fighting proxy wars with South Sudan government on behalf of the northern establishment.
“We now have militia group who have just responded to the amnesty. They can themselves attest to the international community and the government of Sudan where they came. Ask them. They are now here in Juba and they will tell you who used to support them. They were in Sudan,” Marial stressed.
“These are hard facts, not allegations”, he added.
The minister, however, said his government was still committed to work with its Sudanese counterpart to give peace a chance and build trust between the two nations.
(ST)