Khartoum says Juba withdrew army from contested border area
May 2, 2015 (El DAEIN) – A government official in East Darfur state said that South Sudanese army (SPLA) has withdrawn from the contested Samaha border region area following recent clashes between the Sudanese army and rebel Justice and Equality Forces (JEM).
The commissioner of Bahar Al-Arab locality, Salim al-Hassan, disclosed that the SPLA had withdrawn from Samaha following the defeat of the JEM in Gouz Dango in South Darfur state.
Last weekend, the Sudanese government announced that its forces crushed JEM fighters coming from South Sudan to South Darfur and said that it inflicted heavy losses in lives and equipment on them and captured dozens of POW’s and military vehicles.
Khartoum and Juba regularly trade accusations of supporting rebel groups from both sides.
Al-Hassan told the pro-government Sudan Media Center (SMC) website on Saturday that they shut down East Darfur state borders with South Sudan, adding that the SPLA withdrew from the area for fear of clashing with the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) who are carrying out wide combing operations on the borders.
He pointed out that troops have been deployed along the borders with South Sudan from Shikan area to Um Ajaja area in order to prevent infiltration of rebel groups.
The commissioner revealed that East Darfur government plans to implement additional security measures in Samaha area and its surroundings, stressing the state’s southern border are protected against any attempts to penetrate the borders.
He called for establishing services and development projects for the pastoral tribes in order to encourage their settlement, saying the move would reduce conflicts which arise between them and the farmers.
South Sudan seceded from Sudan in July 2011, but the relationship between the two nations remains tense.
According to Enough Project, Sudan and South Sudan’s border conflict, which flared dramatically in the spring of 2012, has the potential of escalating further if steps are not taken toward peace and security between the two countries.
Observers, however, argue that negotiations between the two countries remain the best means for settling the disputed border, related security arrangements, outstanding financial and oil-related issues, and the final status of the contested Abyei region.
(ST)