Sudan army rejects Juba’s allegations of incursions
June 10, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – The spokesman of the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) Colonel Al-Sawarmi Khalid Saad dismissed accusations made by South Sudan of incursions into its territory calling it “baseless”.
Col. Sawarmi also reiterated Khartoum’s assertions of an “occupation” by Juba of six Sudanese border areas.
On Sunday, South Sudan army spokesman Philip Aguer claimed that SAF troops invaded Kuek, an area located about 10km North West of Renk county in Upper Nile state forcing SPLA to retreat.
“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 yesterday.
But SAF official said that Juba’s allegations were made in response to the announcement by director of Sudan’s National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) about SPLA’s occupation at a time when Khartoum has completed its withdrawal according to signed agreements between the two countries.
Relations between the two countries took an abrupt turn to the worst last weekend after Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir ordered the government to halt oil flow from landlocked through the pipelines in response to Juba’s alleged support to rebels.
(ST)