South accuses Khartoum of “making up” rebel claims
June 9,2013 (JUBA) – South Sudan on Sunday accused neighbouring Sudan of “making up” claims that the new nation supports rebel groups fighting to topple the northern regime.
“First all I want to make it very clear that the SPLA is an army of a democratic country. We operate within the legal parameters of the constitution which is clear on foreign relations. Our mandate as defined in the Transitional of the republic of South Sudan is very clear,” said Gen. James Hoth Mai.
He further stressed that the army’s role was to uphold the constitution, defend the sovereignty of the country, protect its citizens and assist government in managing emergency situations.
“We have nothing to do with what is happening in Sudan. We do not provide any support whatsoever. What they are say is simply a cover up for their support to the rebel they wants to use to fight their proxy wars and to divert attention of the Sudanese people from holding them to account for their own failure”, said the senior army official.
The Sudanese leader, Omer Hassan Al Bashir, on Saturday, ordered oil minister Awad al-Jaz to block the pipeline carrying South Sudan’s crude all the way to Red Sea coastal city of Port Sudan.
Bashir, who was speaking in Khartoum state, said this decision was in response to Juba’s continued support to the Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF) rebels fighting Khartoum on multiple fronts.
But Gen. Mai told Sudan Tribune that the wars in Sudan’s conflict regions were “purely internal matters, which should not be blamed on any foreign government”.
“What they are saying about the [alleged] support we provide to their rebels are simply makeup allegations. It is actually the government of Sudan, which provides all type of military supports to the militia groups they use as mercenaries to fight proxy war for them so as to destabilise this country,” he said.
The senior official also claimed South Sudan had documentary evidences, which showed Sudan was aiding militia groups opposed to the southern establishment.
“They are not just claims,” he stressed, adding that three militia groups, who recently surrendered their weapons to the SPLA, confessed that Khartoum supported their activities against the south.
SUDAN INVADES UPPER NILE
Meanwhile, the south has accused the north of invading Kuek; an area located about 10km North West of Renk county in its Upper Nile state.
Philip Aguer, the SPLA spokesperson said Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) crossed into the area on Saturday, forcing the army on the ground to retreat.
Aguer said the actions of the SAF represented a clear violation of the cooperation agreement signed between the two countries.
“The Sudan Armed Forces violated the security arrangement and crossed into Kuek. They have remained there. They are still in the area until this moment. They are in control”, Aguer told reporters in the capital, Juba Sunday.
Aguer did not, however, elaborate on the number of casualties involved.
Upper Nile state’s information minister, Phillip Jaden, also confirmed the attack on Kuek in a separate interview, saying many people have fled the area.
(ST)