Sudanese army denies accusations of involvement in South Sudan clashes

December 21, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) has affirmed that the country would not intervene militarily in South Sudan’s ongoing unrest in any way.

SAF spokesperson al-Sawarmi Khalid Saad stressed that Sudan would only intervene in neighbouring countries with which it has common military protocols, denying accusations made by Edward Lino, the leading figure in South Sudan’s ruling SPLM, about Sudan’s involvement in the internal affairs of South Sudan.

He also dismissed accusations by Lino that Sudan is mobilising troops close to oil production areas in South Sudan as baseless, stressing that what is going on in Juba is an internal Southern affair and that the situation on the borders between the two countries remains calm.

About 500 people have been killed in Juba since clashes broke out last Sunday between presidential guard units from the rival Dinka and Nuer tribes.

President Silva Kiir Mayardit, a Dinka, accused his former deputy Riek Machar from the Nuer tribe and his supporters of orchestrating an alleged coup attempt to overthrow his government.

Machar has denied plotting a coup and accused Kiir of using the clashes to get rid of his political opponents. He also rejected Kiir’s offer to sit down for talks unless the latter agrees to step down first.

(ST)

• South Sudan crisis