South Sudan: Child-soldiers & SPLA (Sudan People’s Liberation Army)

WARM THANKS to Saskia Baas for sending in the following article. Saskia is a PhD candidate at the University of Amsterdam, completing a dissertation on armed opposition movements in Sudan and has done extensive field work in Sudan in 2008 - 2009, interviewing around 80 rebels. Names in the article are not the respondents’ real names.

Children who become soldiers
By Saskia Baas
April 27, 2010

Over the past few years, the use of children as soldiers in armed conflict has become a source of immense moral outrage among rights activists as well as the general public. In 2005, the UN Security Council officially condemned the use of child-soldiers by parties to armed conflict and organisations such as Unicef and Save the Children have launched big campaigns to raise awareness on the tragic fate of children who become soldiers during civil wars in Africa, Asia and South America. Horrendous stories have surfaced of children who were abducted, drugged and turned into killing machines during the bloody civil wars in Sierra Leone and the Ivory Coast. These stories form a legitimate ground for wide condemnation, indeed.

However, although the “child-soldier” is often depicted as a helpless victim of the evildoings of other (adult) actors, this is a simplification that does not do justice to the complex reality of a civil war. During the civil war in South Sudan (1983-2005) the recruitment of children under the age of eighteen was common practice in the largest rebel movement: the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA). The stories of these children – many of whom are by now adults and youngsters – challenge the image of childsoldiers as helpless victims, with no choice or opinion of their own.

Meet Tricia, who joined the SPLA when she was ten years old. When the government army had killed her father, she decided she wanted to fight back: “I became angry. I walked to a town where the SPLA was stationed and I said to them that I want to be a soldier. I took training for two years. I was still small and I was struggling even to carry the gun.” After she completed her training, the army leadership decided she was too young to fight and sent her to a refugee camp in Kenya to go to school. But after a year, she walked back to Sudan to join the army again: “My heart didn’t want to stay in the school. I wanted to fight. Every day in the school, my mind was thinking about going back to the army. This was because of what happened to my father. I was still angry.”

Another soldier, Moses, joined the rebels’ side when he was twelve years old. His home area became very insecure as a result of the war. He explains that he joined the rebels after an attack on his village by the enemy: “When the enemy came, they were killing people and taking the women and cows. They put fire in the house. My father was killed and three men in my sister’s house. I was afraid, I ran away. In the forest, I found soldiers and I joined them.” Although the life of a soldier exposes children to extremely threatening circumstances, it is often overlooked that they were facing the same, or even worse threats in their home communities. Civil war creates extreme insecurities, and becoming a soldier can be a form of seeking relative protection.

Yet, life for children in the army was also harsh and dangerous. There was seldom enough food, and many soldiers died of hunger, malaria or diarrhoea. On the frontlines, soldiers saw their friends die in front of them and many got injured. Simon tells us how he got injured: “When I was sixteen, I got shot in my leg. It had to be amputated and I now use an artificial leg. After that, I could not go back to battle. I stayed in the liberated areas, but still in uniform.” Philip also got injured when he was sixteen “When we started to fight, I felt bad about it. The war made everything worse. People died, got hurt and fled. I got injured in my leg. I had to go to the hospital far from the battles. I had to stay behind in the barracks since then.”

In the SPLA, it was not common for young children to be sent to the frontlines to fight, although there were exceptions to that rule. Many children who wanted to become soldiers were turned down altogether and sent to refugee camps, like what happened to Tricia. Generally, children who were taken into the army were given lighter tasks in the barracks. Yet, some young soldiers recalled how eager they were to go to the frontlines, like Jacob: “I was twelve when I joined the SPLA. I had to join the army, because I needed to protect myself. After the training, I was feeling strong. But the commanders thought I was still too young to fight, so I had to stay in the barracks with them. When I was thirteen, I didn’t want to wait anymore, and they let me go to battle. They saw I was ready for it.”

When possible, the SPLA organised classes for its soldiers in the barracks, mainly during ceasefires. Children were also sent to refugee camps or to safe areas for periods of time to attend school. Daniel explains how he was selected for education: “I joined the SPLA when I was fourteen years old. Then, our commander came to the barracks and they said to me “you are still young, you go to school”. Twenty were selected like that. I went to Kenya and finished my primary and secondary school there.” While life in the ranks of the army was extremely challenging for children, the life they had left behind was often not much better. Those who remained civilians throughout the war were subjected to attacks by the army, disease and famine. In 2005, the SPLA signed a peace agreement with the Sudanese government, putting an end to twenty years of a devastating civil war.

Directly after the peace, rights groups pressured the SPLA to release all soldiers who were then under the age of eighteen. Unicef committed itself to help them reintegrate into civilian life, and received funds to do so, but never managed to get projects going. None of the young soldiers ever received any form of support from Unicef. They had to depend on their families, like Daniel, who was sixteen when the peace was signed: “After the peace, I travelled to where my uncle lives. I was released from the army to go to school and I like it. I am in class 7 now. When I finish my education, I want to teach my people how to plant crops and how to take care of them. I don’t want a job in the army.”

Since the peace, the SPLA is an official army, and its remaining soldiers started receiving salaries. Tricia is now twenty-two years old and earning about $200 a month, which makes her more than well-off for Sudanese standards. She talks about her future: “I am now in the military intelligence. I also want to continue my education. I am going to ask for permission to go to school. But after I finish, I will come back to my job. I want to stay in the army. The army is my life.”

Jacob is now thirty years old, and stationed in South Sudan’s capital Juba where he is performing a civilian task. He hopes to find a way to continue his education, but this is difficult: “The problem is that I am too old for the regular schools here. I’ve been in the army for 16 years now. I am a soldier, and I feel that I have to be in the army. It is a job, somehow. All my experience is in the army. I won’t match in any other place. I belong in the army.” He is also now receiving a salary and is saving up for the dowry, as he is planning to get married and start a family.

The image of a child-soldier as a helpless victim who is abducted and forced, is based on only one part of reality and requires nuance. Although the image works well for those organisations seeking to raise funds for their projects, it does not provide room for children who became soldiers in an attempt to shape their destinies. Civil wars expose people to horrendous experiences and make children specifically vulnerable. Under these threatening circumstances, becoming a fighter may be a perfectly rational way to seek protection, even for children. However, that should not diminish our moral outrage. If anything, it should redirect our indignation towards states and leaders who instigate these wars, and those who look away and fail to act.

Related article on the SID forum: Forgotten… by Jan Pronk

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Forgotten ... the millions of homeless people in forgotten cities
From last month's archives here at Sudan Watch:

While Sudanese rebels refuse to face elections, click here for a reminder of millions of homeless people and children living in forgotten cities.



Quote of the Year

"Thatched huts are upgraded into slums. Camp dwellers start exchanging belongings amongst themselves. Barter develops into markets. People try to make a living through prostitution and crime. Idleness fosters addiction to alcohol and drugs. Combatants come to hide themselves for a while within the camp and recruit youngsters for their militias. People in the camps start organizing themselves. The camps develop into cities, with an economy, a power structure and increasing violence.

Camps are cities in suspense. They suffer from shortages of water and sanitation, shaky food deliveries, oscillating relief assistance, despotic rulers, lawlessness and insecurity, both around the camp and inside."

-Professor Jan Pronk, October 2009

Note from Sudan Watch Editor: Professor Jan Pronk of The Netherlands is a Dutch politician and diplomat. From mid 2004 until the end of 2006 Professor Pronk lived in Khartoum, Sudan as the Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations in Sudan, where he led the UN peace keeping operation (UNMIS) during a most dangerous time. Sadly, Professor Pronk was expelled from Sudan by the Sudanese government because of his blogging. He did so much to help the people of Sudan, risking his life and health in the process. I think the African Union and Sudanese government ought to make amends by awarding him a medal as a mark of respect and appreciation for the countless number of lives that he helped to save through his non-stop hard work, great courage and willingness to speak out. I often think of him and still miss his brilliant blog posts. See BBC News 22 October 2006 UN envoy ordered to leave Sudan and read more at Jan Pronk weblog and Wikipedia.

South Sudan, Malakal, Upper Nile State: GoSS to dialogue with armed SPLM/A defector George Athor Deng

UPDATE on Thursday, May 06, 2010: BREAKING NEWS: Malakal, Upper Nile - S. Sudan govt will not take any military actions against George Athor - GREAT NEWS just in from SRS (Sudan Radio Service) via email: Today, Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) spokesman, Paul Mayom Akech told SRS that his government will not use force against George Athor or any of his followers. High level GoSS officials are in consultation with Mr Athor in order to resolve the issue amicably and peacefully.
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Tuesday, May 04, 2010
South Sudan, Malakal, Upper Nile State: GoSS to dialogue with armed SPLM/A defector George Athor Deng

FURTHER to last Friday's digest here at Sudan Watch regarding shocking news of a deadly attack on the SPLA's military base in Malakal, South Sudan, officials from the Government of South Sudan (GoSS) have confirmed that the base in Delab (aka Doleib) Hill in Upper Nile state, near the border of Jonglei state, in semi-independent South Sudan was attacked on Thursday (29 April)/Friday (30 April) at around 1 a.m. in the morning apparently by one of their own.

Reportedly (details are sketchy and vary from report to report) twelve SPLA soldiers were killed in that fight; five civilians were wounded and three were killed; on the attackers side, five were arrested and one was killed. Weapons were stolen: anti-aircraft weapons, three anti-tank guns and some machine-guns.

George Athor, a former SPLA army general who stood and lost as an independent candidate in last month's elections, said soldiers in the base had mutinied after receiving orders to arrest him.

Yesterday (Monday, 3 May) Mr Athor told Reuters he had taken command of a body of soldiers and demanded the removal of the man who beat him in the elections, Jonglei State's incumbent SPLM governor Kuol Manyang who kept his seat. Athor said he had no ambition to take Manyang's place but just wanted him removed:

"I need Governor Kuol to be removed from his position," Athor told Reuters on Monday.

Several news sources, including Reuters and Sudan Tribune, reported that the SPLA had accused Mr Athor of masterminding the deadly attack and of plotting further assaults in retaliation for his loss in the elections:

"We have full evidence the force was ordered by General George Athor," acting SPLA spokesman Malaak Ayuen told Reuters on Friday (30 April).

Athor denied leading Friday's attack and told Reuters on Monday he had moved to a location near the border of Jonglei and neighboring Upper Nile state with a number of soldiers. He would not say how many men he commanded and denied the accusations against him:

"I did not order any attack anywhere and I had never held any meeting with anybody to consider launching attack on military forces," Athor told Sudan Tribune last week by a satellite (Thuraya) phone in his ancestral village of Rut.

Also, according to Sudan Tribune on Saturday (May 1), Athor in his own words disclosed that a fight in his name had occurred:

"Yes people fought in my name and I did not expect it to happen," he said explaining what actually happened was that a commanding officer with the rank of Major at Doleib has received a message from Juba instructing him to send a force to my house so that all my guards and I are disarmed by force," he said.

"This officer considering my rank in the army declined to come himself with the force as per instructions but decided to send a captain who also refused immediately. The officer refused and so did the soldiers who were being selected to come with him," he continued to explain.

The refusal of the captain resulted into a quarrel between them, and all elements loyal to the two officers started to take positions based on ethnicities, he said adding they communicated their differences over him to Juba and were again told to execute the order by any means. But this could not work because they had already taken positions and started shooting themselves.

The retreated SPLA general said the fighting occurred on Thursday evening and he had not aware.

On Monday, speaking to Reuters by satellite phone, Mr Athor declined to give details of his immediate plans but warned he would respond to any provocation from the south's SPLA:

"If I am provoked I can attack anywhere ... I have enough forces that can capture Malakal (the capital of Upper Nile state), Bor (the capital of Jonglei state) or anywhere."

Athor, a member of the large Dinka tribe, said he had a number of demands which he hoped to achieve through negotiation:

"And the forces that have joined me are to be given amnesty and to return to their units without punishment," he added.

The southern army played down Mr Athor's warnings, saying he did not have a large enough force to mount large-scale attacks. Southern army spokesman Malaak Ayuen said the latest intelligence suggested Athor was on the move, heading south:

"I don't think he will attack a big town but he will try to destabilize communities ... Now SPLA forces are very much aware and they are prepared to face him."

Today (Tuesday, 3 May) Voice of America News online reported that Oyay Deng Ajak, South Sudan’s minister for regional cooperation said those responsible for the attack will be brought to book and even banned from the SPLA:

“On Friday, there was an attack on a place called Doleib Hill, 12 miles south of Malakal, and the attack was on the SPLA military base. Honestly, we do not know why they attacked that location. The information we are getting is that they are supporters of one SPLA officer, George Athor, who contested for the position of the governor of Jonglei State, and, of course, he could not make it,” he said.

Ajak said no election defeat should justify the killing of innocent people.

“I think there were three people who contested for the governor of Jonglei State, and of course if we are to go by the elections, Kuol Manyang (incumbent Jonglei governor) won the election and the rest should abide by the decision of the electoral commission. I really don’t think that somebody will pick up arms and fight because he didn’t win an election,” Ajak said.

Ajak rejected any suggestion that the dispute with Athor signals a split in the ranks of the SPLM, south Sudan’s dominant party.

“I think the SPLM is very much united and very strong and solid, and we are, of course, celebrating the victory that has been won by the SPLM. We hope we will take the people of south Sudan to the end of the interim period, which is 6 or 7 months left for the referendum,” Ajak said.

He said Athor is welcome to come before south Sudan authorities to defend himself against the allegations he carried out the attack on the military base.

Minister of Interior, Gair Shwan underscored the keenness of GoSS to reach a peaceful reconciliation in the area. He told reporters that his government was endeavoring to calm the situation. See report here below from Sudan Vision Daily entitled "Kiir Dissolves Parliament, GoSS to Dialogue with SPLM Defector".

Sources: reports below.

Another veteran senior army officer joins Independent candidate Gen. Athor
From Sudan Tribune - Monday, 3 May 2010:

May 3, 2010 (JUBA) – A veteran senior officer in the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) is reported to have joined the former army deputy chief of staff who has carried out deadly attack against the SPLA forces.

Brig. General John Jok Gai has reportedly joined Gen. George Athor Deng, who turned violent after losing the Jonglei state’s gubernatorial race to the incumbent governor, Kuol Manyang Juuk.

Brig. Gen. John Jok was a popular army officer during the formation of the SPLM/A in 1983 in Itang, Ethiopia, and was the officer in charge of the police stations in the residential area which accommodated most of the SPLM/A senior officers in 1980s.

He is the first Brig. General to be named after the Government of Southern Sudan’s statements suspecting about seven Brig. Generals who have sided with Gen. George Athor.

Other generals are suspected to be mostly from Gen. Athor’s home area and have a coordination in many areas in Jonglei state. Brig. Gen. John Jok was recently deployed in Wau, Western Bahr el-Ghazal as deputy in charge of the police force in the state.

He was also the former Commissioner of Nyirol County of Jonglei state and was removed by a presidential decree two years ago. His family members told Sudan Tribune that they have confirmed that he is no where to be known. He has since two weeks ago cut off his phone lines.

Wild spread rumors in Bor town talk of Gen. George Athor warning the town residents to leave the town until May 8 dateline, or face the consequences of his imminent attacks.

He is also reported to have recruited former SPLA unconfirmed officers and foot soldiers on his side and already promoted some of them.

Gen. Athor possesses a number of pick up trucks and ammunition depots, according to security sources, who said the number of his forces could have now reached about nearly a thousand.

His exact location is not known as of now since his withdrawal from his home town, Khorfulus. Military analysts say his recent denial on phones about his innocent on the Doleib attacks was just a maneuvering tactic. (ST)

Defeated Sudan candidate says armed, makes demands
From Reuters by Skye Wheeler in JUBA, Sudan (Editing by Andrew Heavens)
Monday, 3 May 2010; 2:23pm EDT:

A renegade army general in South Sudan said on Monday he had taken command of a body of soldiers and demanded the removal of the man who beat him in recent elections.

South Sudan's army accused George Athor of masterminding an attack on one of its bases on Friday and plotting further assaults after he lost in the race to become governor of the oil-producing south's Jonglei state last week.

The confirmation that Athor set up his own military force days after the contested vote will stoke tensions in the region already hit by tribal violence and decades of civil war.

Athor denied leading Friday's attack, but told Reuters on Monday he had moved to a location near the border of Jonglei and neighboring Upper Nile state with a number of soldiers. He would not say how many men he commanded.

Speaking by satellite phone, Athor declined to give details of his immediate plans but warned he would respond to any provocation from the south's Sudan People's Liberation Army.

"If I am provoked I can attack anywhere ... I have enough forces that can capture Malakal (the capital of Upper Nile state), Bor (the capital of Jonglei state) or anywhere."

DEMANDS

Sudan last week wrapped up elections that were seen as a test of democracy in Africa's largest country, particularly in its south which is preparing for a referendum in January 2011 on whether to declare independence from the north.

Athor and other independent candidates accused the south's dominant party, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), of harassing their supporters and rigging the vote.

Athor, a member of the large Dinka tribe, said he had a number of demands which he hoped to achieve through negotiation.

"I need Governor Kuol to be removed from his position," said Athor, referring to Jonglei's incumbent SPLM governor Kuol Manyang who kept his seat in the elections. Athor said he had no ambition to take Manyang's place but just wanted him removed.

"And the forces that have joined me are to be given amnesty and to return to their units without punishment," he added.

The southern army played down Athor's warnings, saying he did not have a large enough force to mount large-scale attacks.

Southern army spokesman Malaak Ayuen said the latest intelligence suggested Athor was on the move, heading south.

"I don't think he will attack a big town but he will try to destabilize communities ... Now SPLA forces are very much aware and they are prepared to face him."

An international source in Juba, who asked not to be named, said Friday's attack was a worrying development. "The fact that arms were reportedly stolen is worrisome for the future security of the area. Clearly there is a danger."

The southern army said at least eight people died in the attack on its base in Doleib Hill, near the border of Jonglei and Upper Nile on Friday. Athor said soldiers in the base had mutinied after receiving orders to arrest him.

South Sudan Official Denies Split in SPLM Ranks Following Attack on Military Base -
Minister for regional cooperation Oyay Deng Ajak says those responsible for the attack will be brought to book and if possible banned from the SPLA
From Voice of America (VOA) News - Tuesday, 4 May 2010
By James Butty (Washington, D.C.):

Authorities in South Sudan have confirmed that one of their military bases was attacked last Friday apparently by one of their own.

The South Sudan People’s Liberation Army accused one of its officers -- George Athor or his supporters -- of masterminding the attack after he lost the race to become governor of the oil-producing Jonglei state in Sudan’s recent elections.

Oyay Deng Ajak, south Sudan’s minister for regional cooperation said those responsible for the attack will be brought to book and even banned from the SPLA.

“On Friday, there was an attack on a place called Doleib Hill, 12 miles south of Malakal, and the attack was on the SPLA military base. Honestly, we do not know why they attacked that location. The information we are getting is that they are supporters of one SPLA officer, George Athor, who contested for the position of the governor of Jonglei State, and, of course, he could not make it,” he said.

Athor, who denied he carried out the attack, told Reuters news agency the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) harassed his supporters and rigged the elections.

Ajak said no election defeat should justify the killing of innocent people.

“I think there were three people who contested for the governor of Jonglei State, and of course if we are to go by the elections, Kuol Manyang (incumbent Jonglei governor) won the election and the rest should abide by the decision of the electoral commission. I really don’t think that somebody will pick up arms and fight because he didn’t win an election,” Ajak said.

He said Athor’s reported demand for Jonglei state incumbent governor Kuol Manyang to step down is a waste of time.

“To be very honest with you, as a minister for regional cooperation, I really think that those who are responsible for the attack at Doleib Hill the SPLA should keep them banned and of course we will bring them to book. As for the governor to step down, I think this is too far. The governor has been elected and the results had been announced, and if he (Athor) has any case against the governor he must go to the courts,” he said.

Ajak rejected any suggestion that the dispute with Athor signals a split in the ranks of the SPLM, south Sudan’s dominant party.

“I think the SPLM is very much united and very strong and solid, and we are, of course, celebrating the victory that has been won by the SPLM. We hope we will take the people of south Sudan to the end of the interim period, which is 6 or 7 months left for the referendum,” Ajak said.

He said Athor is welcome to come before south Sudan authorities to defend himself against the allegations he carried out the attack on the military base.

SPLA general demands sacking of Jonglei governor
From Sudan Tribune - Tuesday, 4 May 2010:

3 May 2010 (KHARTOUM) - General George Athor at the Sudan People Liberation Army (SPLA) announced today that he had pulled together a group of soldiers under his leadership and demanded that the governor of Jonglei who won the recent elections be removed.

"I need Governor Kuol to be removed from his position," Athor told Reuters, referring to Jonglei’s incumbent SPLM governor Kuol Manyang who kept his seat in the elections. He said that he had no ambition to take Manyang’s place but just wanted him removed.

Athor ran against Manyang in the south’s oil-producing Jonglei state but lost by a wide margin. Kuol Manyang (SPLM) obtained 165,387 of valid votes (66.2%). George Athor Deng (Independent) comes second with 67,639 votes (27.1%).

Athor and other independent candidates accused the south’s dominant party, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), of harassing their supporters and rigging the vote.

The 11-15 April elections were the first in 24 years - and the first since the end of a two-decade conflict between north and south.

The SPLA had accused Athor of masterminding an attack on one of its bases last Friday and plotting further assaults in retaliation to his loss in the elections. However, the senior military officer denied claims leveled against him.

"I did not order any attack anywhere and I had never held any meeting with anybody to consider launching attack on military forces," General Athor told Sudan Tribune last week from his ancestral village of Rut.

Jonglei, south Sudan’s vast-populous state, suffered tribal conflicts in 2009 with death toll reaching 2,000. The electoral campaigns and polls were peaceful but tension rose after the announcement of results that were won by the southern Sudan ruling party; the SPLM.

Today Athor declined to give Reuters details of his immediate plans but warned he would respond to any provocation from the SPLA.

"If I am provoked I can attack anywhere ... I have enough forces that can capture Malakal (the capital of Upper Nile state), Bor (the capital of Jonglei state) or anywhere."

Athor, a member of the large Dinka tribe, said he had a number of demands which he hoped to achieve through negotiation.

"And the forces that have joined me are to be given amnesty and to return to their units without punishment," he added.

The southern army played down Athor’s warnings, saying he did not have a large enough force to mount large-scale attacks.

Southern army spokesman Malaak Ayuen said the latest intelligence suggested Athor was on the move, heading south.

"I don’t think he will attack a big town but he will try to destabilize communities ... Now SPLA forces are very much aware and they are prepared to face him.

Kiir Dissolves Parliament, GoSS to Dialogue with SPLM Defector
From Sudan Vision Daily - Monday, 3 May 2010 by Staff Writer:

FVP, President of the Government of South Sudan (GoSS), Lt. Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit decreed last Sunday, dissolution of South Sudan Central as well as state-level parliaments.

GoSS Minister of Information Paul Miyom Akeij, reported that the resolution had come on the heels of the recent election of MPs for the central and the 10 state-level parliaments.

Meanwhile, GoSS Security Council resolved conduction of dialogue with the Lt. Gen George Athor whose militias assaulted some military sites in Jonglei State last Friday dawn.

Minister of Interior, Gair Shwan underscored the keenness of South Sudan government to reach a peaceful reconciliation in the area. He told reporters that his government was endeavoring to calm the situations in the region far from any military escalation in order to save lives and property. He expressed hope that all parties would positively respond to dialogue describing the situation in Jonglei as under control.

SPLA did accuse some militants of attacking the base of Doleep Hill, near Malakal, killing 12 and injuring 20 people. He said the militants were operating in favor of a particular elections-loser candidate.

SPLA Spokesperson, Col. Malak Aiwein, accused supporters of SPLM-DC Chairman, Lam Akol of backing up the aggression effected by the followers of the Independent candidate, George Athor who was contesting the seat of the Upper Nile State Governor.

From SRS (Sudan Radio Service) - Monday, 3 May 2010:

May 3, 2010 (JUBA) – The caretaker Goss Minister for Internal Affairs, Gier Chuang, has confirmed the attack launched against an SPLA barracks by mutinous troops at the Delab Hill barracks on Thursday.

The attackers are believed to be under the command of former SPLA general, George Athor who stood for election and lost the Jonglei gubernatorial seat to Kuol Manyang.

Addressing reporters in Juba on Saturday, Gier Chuang said 12 soldiers were killed during the attack.

[Gier Chuang]: “On 29th, at around 1 a.m. in the morning a group from the barracks around the headquarters came and attacked the SPLA headquarters, Delab Hill barracks. They exchanged fire with the soldiers who were in the headquarters. Twelve SPLA soldiers were killed in that fight and among them five officers: three captains, one first lieutenant, one second lieutenant and seven soldiers. Five civilians were wounded and three were killed. On the attackers’ side, five were arrested and one was killed. On the 30th, it was confirmed that they came from the barracks of Lieutenant-general George Athor Deng in Korfulus, and it was confirmed yesterday that they sneaked into the stores and took anti-aircraft weapons and three anti-tank guns and some machine-guns and they went back to Korfulus to join George Athor.”

Chuang went on to explain the possible reasons for the attack.

[Gier Chuang]: “Yesterday, Athor told the BBC in a statement that he took that action because had contested the elections and won the governorship of Jonglei state but the election was rigged and that’s how he lost. That is what he claims.Therefore we in the government and in SPLM want to say that there was no rigging, because the difference between him and Kuol Deim is very big. It is not close to rigging nor is it close to anything. The reason is simple - there are people who do not believe the truth - they want things to be done their way.”

Gier Chuang was speaking to reporters in Juba on Saturday.

Jonglei governor-elect calls for calm as opponent hides
From Sudan Tribune - Sunday, 2 May 2010: [*Note from Sudan Watch Editor: A reader's comment posted at Sudan Tribune in reply to the following article says the spelling of the NCP candidate's last name is Jakok, not Jakor]:

May 1, 2010 (BOR) – Kuol Manyang Juuk, the caretaker governor of Jonglei State who won April polls, today called for calm as defeated independent gubernatorial candidate George Athor Deng, accused of attacking a military base in neighboring Upper Nile State on Friday, spend a second day out of sight.

PHOTO: This photo shows SPLM’s Kuol Manyang Juuk campaigning in Pam, Fangak HQs on March 11, 2010 flanked by South Sudan internal Minister Gier Chuang (L) and Sudan State minister fof Water and irrigation James Kok Ruea (R). Both Ministers are candidates in April elections (ST)

Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Mr. Kuol says the situation is under control and security measures have been taken to avert extension of atrocities to Jonglei territory.

"I ask the people of Jonglei to remain calm and avoid listening to rumors over phones," said Kuol Manyang Juuk, the Jonglei governor-elect. He also refutes claim that the Doleipin Hill attack, by civilians loyal to Mr. Athor in Upper Nile State, is affiliated to April polls.

Doleipin Hill, a military barrack for the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) was attacked early on Friday by armed gunmen. Seven people died and 25 others wounded including SPLA soldiers and civilians.

Five attackers are captured and allegedly confessed that their actions were coordinated by defeated independent candidate for Jonglei governorship, George Athor Deng. Mr. Athor is reportedly discontented with election outcome that declared Kuol Manyang as the winner with vote difference of nearly 100,000.

Jonglei, south Sudan’s vast-populous state, suffered tribal conflicts in 2009 with death toll reaching 2,000. The electoral campaigns and polls were peaceful but tension rose after the announcement of results that were won by the southern Sudan ruling party; the SPLM.

Kuol Manyang (SPLM) obtained 165,387 of valid votes (66.2%). George Athor Deng (Independent) comes second with 67,639 votes (27.1%) as Joseph Duer Jakor* (NCP) trails with 16,704 votes (6.7%).

The NCP gubernatorial contender in Jonglei State Joseph Duer Jakor* phoned and congratulated SPLM’s victory, Mr. Kuol revealed today saying "I should have done the same [congratulate a winner] if I lost".

Asked to comment on the hypothesized voting rigging to secure victory in last month’s election, Mr. Kuol said: "The National Election Commission (NEC) is not under my command and if Athor has complaint he should open his case against NEC".

Athor could not be reached for reaction but he told the BBC on Friday that he never took part in the attack and blamed SPLA internal dispute on his alleged arrest.

GOOD MAN ERASING GOOD HISTORY

Looking back at records, the main rival in the race to Jonglei governorship, Kuol Manyang described Athor Deng as a "good man" who contributed tremendously during the war of liberation.

Speaking in a combative mood, Kuol says he is "sad" that George Athor is "erasing a history of good contribution" particularly when he resisted and 1991 Nassir defectors had been in his hometown of Khorfulus. For Goerge Athor great work, Kuol recalls, forces opposing SPLA/M’s course to liberation of the Sudan’s marginalized people were defeated.

Calling on George Athor to reconsider the objectives of SPLA/M since its inception in 1983 of peace, freedom and prosperity, Kuol says it is vital to halt oppressive assaults on civilians and allow peace a chance "so that we prepare our people for referendum".

Since the Friday attack in Upper Nile territory, Mr. George Athor’s whereabouts is unknown.

The fear among the public is how swiftly the Government of South Sudan will respond to the security threat mobility will be overshadowed by the rainy season that just began. Khorfulus in Pigi County, where George stays before the attack, lacks roads. (ST)

General Dau tells General Athor to leave his ancestral village for Juba
From Sudan Tribune - Monday, 3 May 2010 by Ngor Arol Garang - excerpt:

May 2, 2010 (WUNROK) - The former Independent candidate Major General Dau Aturjong Nyuol, whose elections results in the southern state of Northern Bahr el Ghazal, were announced against his favor, has on Sunday asked his comrade at arms, Lieutenant General George Athor Deng, to consider leaving his ancestral village of Rut for either Juba or elsewhere.

Both Athor and Dau are long known friends at arms and had also contested recently concluded polls independently after failing to secure endorsement of their candidatures by political bureau of the southern ruling party, the SPLM. All of them contested against SPLM official nominees in their respective states of Jonglei and Northern Bahr el Ghazal. [...]

Considering their personal relationship, General Dau Aturjong in an interview with Sudan Tribune on Sunday said he think that George Athor has to leave his village to stop allegations of his involvement in the attack.

"I think it is better for General Athor to leave (to Juba) so that claims about his involvement in the attack due to his presence in the area cease immediately," General Dau said. "His presence in the area is being misused. I suggest him to leave for the moment regardless of family and relatives matters he would like to attend. He should leave," said General Dau. [...]

General Athor distances himself from attack on SPLA barrack
From Sudan Tribune - Sunday, 2 May 2010 by Ngor Arol Garang:

May 1, 2010 (WUNROK) - Lieutenant General George Athor Deng, who contested gubernatorial elections independently, in the state of Jonglei, after failing to secure approval of his candidature by the SPLM political bureau in January, denied having launched any attack on the SPLA barrack and described it as internal clash within the Southern Sudan army.

On Friday 30, April 2010, rumors spreading like wild fire of attack on SPLA post at Doleib Hills area, a contested territory predominantly habitat to both Shilluk and Dinka Luac, dominated cabinet meeting in Juba and majority within the cabinet were quick to point accusing finger and blamed incident onto armed elements allegedly loyal to Lieutenant General George Athor Deng, who had, while serving in the SPLA, held position of deputy Chief of General Staff for Moral Orientation.

Colonel Malaak Ayuel Ajok, who heads SPLA department of Information and Public Relations, stated on Southern Sudan TV that a surprise attack reportedly launched on Friday at around 1:30AM was organized by General Athor.

Col. Malaak, while announcing the attack, without giving detail of the casualties, said many of the attackers were killed and five of them are captured. According to him, the arrested attackers confessed that they had been ordered by General George Athor to carry out the attack on the SPLA military base.

Other senior officials in the government of southern Sudan including minister of internal affairs, General Gier Chuang also confirmed the raid without giving details. Jonglei Governor Kuol Manyang Juuk also held a closed door meeting with SPLA senior officers in Bor town following reports of the clashes.

Captain Garang Wieu from SPLA logistics, who went to Doleib as part of the reinforcement troops, in Malakal town, told Sudan Tribune that five officers and ten soldiers have been killed in the fighting. Two or three officers killed are said be from Awan Chan, home to GOSS president Salva Kiir Mayardit.

However, General Athor, in an interview with Sudan Tribune, on Saturday, from his home village of Rut in Khorfoulus, Jonglei State, said he did not order any attack on SPLA forces.

"I did not order any attack anywhere and I had never held any meeting with anybody to consider launching attack on military forces," General Athor told Sudan Tribune by a satellite (Thuraya) phone in his ancestral village of Rut.

The General who had thrice failed to pick up telephone calls said he was sleeping hence could not response to the first calls. "I was sleeping and this telephone was also outside in the sitting room. It was brought to me just now because it was receiving a lot when I was sleeping. My wife said she received a lot of calls from strange numbers," he explained adding his communications with people are being misinterpreted.

Athor in his own words however disclosed that a fight in his name has occurred.

"Yes people fought in my name and I did not expect it to happen," he said explaining what actually happened was that a commanding officer with the rank of Major at Doleib has received a message from Juba instructing him to send a force to my house so that all my guards and I are disarmed by force," he said.

"This officer considering my rank in the army declined to come himself with the force as per instructions but decided to send a captain who also refused immediately. The officer refused and so did the soldiers who were being selected to come with him," he continued to explain.

The refusal of the captain resulted into a quarrel between them, and all elements loyal to the two officers started to take positions based on ethnicities, he said adding they communicated their differences over him to Juba and were again told to execute the order by any means. But this could not work because they had already taken positions and started shooting themselves.

The retreated SPLA general said the fighting occurred on Thursday evening and he had not aware.

"I only came to know after they had clashed and killed themselves on Friday morning because of the sound of guns and calls from everywhere inquiring my involvement in the attack," he said.

He said that a message allegedly originated from the SPLA general headquarters in Juba with no signature of a specific person as the majority of the troops wanted to know why they were being asked to go and disarm me with the guards.

Asked whether he contacted anybody in Juba, Athor said he received calls while in process to contact those in the authorities.

"I started receiving calls of those I had wanted to contact hence I might not make any call again, he said.

In statements made today in Jonglei, the governor Kuol Manyang said he was uncertain about the implication of his challenger General Athor in Friday fighting, dismissing reports linking Doleib clashes with the results of April elections.

National elections results gave incumbent Gov. Kuol Manyang Juuk 165,387 votes and George Athor Deng who contested as independent candidate with 67,639 votes while Joseph Duer Jakor from the National Congress Party became the last with 16,704 votes. (ST)

South Sudan army accuses poll candidate of attack
From Reuters (via Yahoo News) - Friday, 30 April 2010; 12:09 pm ET
By Skye Wheeler (Writing by Andrew Heavens; Editing by Maria Golovnina) - excerpt:

JUBA, Sudan (Reuters) – South Sudan's army accused a defeated election candidate of ordering an attack on one of its bases that killed at least eight soldiers Friday, stoking tensions days after the contested poll.

George Athor, defeated in the race to become governor of the south's oil-producing Jonglei state, denied ordering any attack, telling Reuters soldiers in the base had mutinied after receiving orders to arrest him.

Any confirmed involvement in the attack by Athor, who is also a senior officer in the south's army, would be a serious escalation in violence in the region, already hit by drought and clashes between heavily armed tribal groups.

Sudan this week wrapped up elections that were seen as a test of democracy in Africa's largest country, particularly in its south which is preparing for a referendum in January 2011 on whether to declare independence from the north.

Athor and other independent candidates accused the south's dominant party, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), of harassing their supporters and rigging the vote.

The south's Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) said that armed men attacked the southern army base in Jonglei's Doleib Hill area, close to state capital Malakal, early Friday.

"We have full evidence the force was ordered by General George Athor," acting SPLA spokesman Malaak Ayuen told Reuters.

"He contested as a governor in Jonglei but lost," Ayuen said, adding that the intention behind the attack was unclear. "It was very surprising ... (We think) he became angry and is trying to create insecurity."

Ayuen said the army had captured five of the attackers who said they were working under Athor's orders.

Athor decided to run as an independent after failing to get the SPLM nomination. Speaking by satellite telephone from Jonglei, he denied having any forces in the area.

"They wanted to send a force to capture me but they refused to do this and now they were trying to arrest those officers who refused to go and attack me and so there was a mutiny," he said.

Athor said he did not know why they would want to arrest him. "You should ask Salva Kiir," he said, referring to the president of the semi-autonomous south. [...]

From SRS (Sudan Radio Service) via email Monday, 3 May 2010:

April 30, 2010 (PAYINJIAR) - About eleven people have been injured after unknown assailants attacked Doleb Hills in Upper Nile state on Thursday night.

Speaking to SRS on Friday, the Director of Malakal Teaching Hospital, Dr. Tut Gony, said his staff is currently treating the wounded.

[Tut Gony]: “We heard from people that this happened last night, Some said they have been hearing the gunshots throughout the night up to this morning and when I reported to work a wounded woman and her daughter, who was about one year old, were brought to the hospital. We thought that these would be the only wounded so we were not expecting more. But after an hour and half, another group was brought in. Six people were brought in. A woman, a man and four soldiers were wounded badly.”

Dr. Tut Gony was speaking to SRS on Friday in Malakal.

- - -

Copy of two comments at Sudan Tribune article 3 May 2010 entitled "Another veteran senior army officer joins Independent candidate Gen. Athor"

Comment posted on 3 May 2010 by ALCON, SPLA:

"This issue of George Athor has nothing to do with the elections that just took place. George Athor had issues with Kiir regarding Matip’s position in the SPLA. When Paulino Matip forces emerged with the SPLA and Kiir made Matip as his deputy, Athor objected to that. He frankly told Kiir that if you make Matip the deputy commander of the SPLA forces, he never report to Matip nor would he respect him. He stated to Kiir that he was fighting those of Paulino Matip and Gatwech Dual all his live and now Matip would be his boss, that was not acceptable to him. He refused to come to Juba for some months back in late 2005 or early 2006 until Kiir convinced Him not to defect from the the SPLA.

In 2008, he was promoted to Lieutenant General and made as a deputy chief of staffs for moral. Then election came, he was hoping that the SPLM will accept him as its candidate for the governorship in Jonglei but that was not the case. He felt that SPLM/A is being control by former militias who he used to fight during the war.

This issue is all about a position in the government of South Sudan. Athor lost his former position as a deputy chief of staff and he lost his bet for the governorship. Kiir and Athor will settle this dispute by giving Athor a ministerial position in the next government."

Comment posted on 3 May by deng deng:

"southern peace lovers, ask your selves simple question؛ who bankrolled athor for his campaigns? He was dishing out cash during elections like no man’s business and talking crap in malakal radio. Honestly that is not athor we all know, some thing is controlling him. And soon we shall all see what is controlling him eventually".

- - -

Gen. George Athor Deng needs political accommodation
Commentary from The New Sudan Vision (NSV) by James Monyluak Majok (a concerned citizen living in Windsor, Canada) - Tuesday 4 May 2010 - excerpt:

"[...]
Based on this perspective, I am hereby recommending the following:

1) That SPLA under Kiir leadership needs to plan how to incorporate Maj. Gen. George Athor with his followers back into SPLA army without delay and hesitation;

2) That a civilian committee from Jonglei and Upper Nile states be formed to intervene and assure his followers who are civilians to work with the new elected governments in both states to maintain peace and tranquility;

3) That speedy plans are put in place and need not to wait as we always wait to see what will happen and act when it is too late to act;

4) That the defeated candidates, who happened to be independent, be considered and accommodated politically, otherwise the South will not reach the long-awaited referendum period. In other words, they will be creating problems here and there to achieve their political agenda."

South Sudan: April 30 attack on SPLM/A military base in Malakal, Upper Nile state

UPDATE - Thursday, May 06, 2010 - BREAKING NEWS: Malakal, Upper Nile - S. Sudan govt will not take any military actions against George Athor - GREAT NEWS just in from SRS (Sudan Radio Service) via email: Today, Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) spokesman, Paul Mayom Akech told SRS that his government will not use force against George Athor or any of his followers. High level GoSS officials are in consultation with Mr Athor in order to resolve the issue amicably and peacefully.
+ + +

FULL STORY - Tuesday, May 04, 2010 - South Sudan, Malakal, Upper Nile State: GoSS to dialogue with armed SPLM/A defector George Athor Deng
+ + +

Saturday, May 01, 2010
South Sudan: April 30 attack on SPLM/A military base in Malakal, Upper Nile state

ACCORDING to a report published today at Sudan Tribune, southern Sudan officials on Friday (30 April) confirmed that George Athor, who recently contested as independent candidate for governorship of the region’s largest state of Jonglei, was behind yesterday's attack on an army base of the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) near the Upper Nile state’s capital, Malakal in semi-independent South Sudan.

In South Sudan, the ex-rebel group Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) is the ruling party and political wing of the SPLA. Collectively, they are known as known as Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement (SPLA/M) or SPLM/A. The SPLM has been criticised for alleged vote manipulation in the country's first elections in 24 years.

The attacked army base is in the town of Delab Hills (aka Doleib or Doleb) area located inside Upper Nile state, not far from Khorfulus, the home town of George Athor, where is he is currently based and situated on the other side of the border in Jonglei state. The base houses soldiers of the SPLM, some of whom are said to have taken part in the attack.

Reportedly, the attackers were trained soldiers and supporters of Mr Athor, an independent candidate who had campaigned against the reigning SPLM party to be governor of the state of Jonglei. Athor denied leading the troops but told the BBC he sympathised with them and said the polls were rigged.

The BBC's James Copnall in Khartoum says there have been intense negotiations for several days to avoid just this sort of problem in Southern Sudan and says it is too early to tell if this is an isolated incident, or the start of a much bigger problem.

Jonglei is one of the 26 states in the south to elect governors and legislators. George Athor ran unsuccessfully against incumbent governor Kuol Manyang Juuk.

Further details here below.



Click here to view a map of Malakal, Upper Nile State, southern Sudan. (Thanks to ReliefWeb)

Quote of the Day

Guys, Can we stop speculating this since it is a sensistive matter and still under "suspicion". Athor is denying it and Dominic Kuol Dim has not come out to tell us what happen and who is behind it. Are we going to war or do we want to apprehend those who carry out this heinous act. The argument here is political insufficient, and I advise that we all wait before we fueled with our rhetoric. "KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN AMD KEEP WATCHING EM".
- Maruon Ayiei, 1 May 2010

Source: Comment by Maruon Ayiei posted at Sudan Tribune on 1 May 2010 in response to the following article:

Defeated candidate launches destructive attack on South Sudan army in Jonglei
From Sudan Tribune, Saturday 1 May 2010:

April 30, 2010 (JUBA) – A defeated candidate and former Lt. General and Deputy Chief of General Staff for Moral Orientation in the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), has launched a deadly assault on the army’s military barrack of Doleib Hills area near the Upper Nile state’s capital, Malakal.

Southern Sudan officials on Friday confirmed that General George Athor, who recently contested as independent candidate for governorship of the region’s largest state of Jonglei, was behind the attack.

The SPLA’s Head of Information and Public Relations, Colonel Malaak Ayuel Ajok, on Friday in a televised statement on Southern Sudan TV announced that the surprise attack occurred at around 1:30AM in the early morning of Friday.

Col. Malaak said many of the attackers were killed and five of them captured. He said the captured soldiers confessed that they were ordered by General George Athor to carry out the attack.

He said hundreds of soldiers loyal to General George Athor involved in the operation.

The defeated Gen. Athor denied ordering any attack. He told Reuters that soldiers in Doleib military barrack had mutinied after receiving orders to arrest him.

Col. Malaak said Gen. George Athor got angry after he was declared the loser in the Jonglei state’s gubernatorial elections. The independent candidate said he won the elections but the results were later on rigged in favor of Kuol Manyang Juuk, the incumbent governor and declared winner in Jonglei state’s gubernatorial election.

The first elected governor of South Sudan’s vast-populous Jonglei, the incumbent Gov. Kuol Manyang scored 165,387 votes. George Athor Deng (Independent) comes second with 67,639 votes as Joseph Duer Jakor (NCP) trails with 16,704 votes.

Senior government officials also confirmed the clashes, saying the cabinet for the semi-autonomous region was briefed on Friday by the minister of Internal Affairs, General Gier Chuang Aluong, about the developing situation.

Also, Jonglei elected Governor Kuol Manyang Juuk, held a closed door meeting with SPLA senior officers but there was no public statement.

The number of casualties was not yet confirmed as officials said more details were still emerging, but according to the security chief, among the dead SPLA soldiers included many SPLA officers in addition to a number of civilians who were caught in cross fire.

Military depots were also looted by the attacking force and among the weapons they captured included a number of anti-tanks and 12.7 artillery.

Eye witnesses in Malakal town said about six vehicles were packed with the wounded and taken to Malakal Hospital.

General George Athor, who confirmed the incidence, however told the BBC that he was not directly involved in the incidence, saying it was an internal mutiny within the SPLA forces.

He however added that it was an action against the “corrupt SPLM” system, saying he was sympathizing with the soldiers who carried out the attack.

The attacked military barrack is located inside Upper Nile state, not far from Khorfulus, the home town of General Athor, where is he is currently based and situated on the other side of the border in Jonglei state.

Officials suspected that General Athor was planning heavy attacks inside targeted locations within Jonglei state and that his initial attack on the barrack across the border in Upper Nile state was to snatch the weapons and ammunitions for use in his planned activities in Jonglei state.

Officials quoted General Gier Chuang as saying that General Athor has already coordinated his activities with other SPLA elements including in the Southern Sudan’s capital, Juba, and that he has about seven Brigadier Generals and several Colonels on his side.

General George Athor lost to the incumbent Jonglei state governor, Kuol Manyang Juuk, according to the declared results by the National Elections Commission (NEC) but earlier warned that he won the elections and the ruling SPLM party latter on rigged it in favor of Kuol Manyang.

Jonglei state is the largest state in Southern Sudan inhabited by about five different ethnic groups which population is pre-dominantly of the Nuer ethnic group. Both General George Athor and his rival, Kuol Manyang, are from the Dinka tribe, the largest ethnic group in Southern Sudan.

Officials said the government would take measures to control the situation before it gets out of control.

Col. Malaak Ayuel in his televised statement on behalf of the SPLA Chief of General Staff, Lt. General James Hoth Mai, warned General George Athor to stop attacking the SPLA forces, saying the army was capable of responding to the situation with full force. (ST)

BREAKING NEWS: discontented SPLA forces attack army barrack
From Sudan Tribune, Friday 30 April 2010:

April 30, 2010 (JUBA) – News reaching Juba have confirmed a military attack on SPLA barrack by suspected discontented army elements said to be under the command of an independent gubernatorial candidate who recently lost elections in the largest southern Sudan state.

The SPLA barrack at Doleib was attacked yesterday evening by forces that are suspected to be under the command of Major General George Athor, who recently lost against the incumbent governor, Kuol Manyang Juuk in Jonglei state.

A number of people are reported killed and wounded while four people from the attackers were captured and reportedly confessed that they were under the directive of Gen. Athor.

According to security sources, the attack occurred when the discontented forces surrounded the barrack and tried to break into arms and ammunition store in the barrack.

It was not clear why the forces wanted to take the arms, but sources were suspicious that they were planning for more attacks on other locations.

Maj. Gen. George Athor, the suspected leader behind the attacks, is currently based in his home town of Khorfulus, which is not very far from where the attacks were carried out across the border with Upper Nile state. (ST)

Sudan: Base Attacked in South
From The New York Times by REUTERS, Friday 30 April 2010 [Note from Sudan Watch Editor: The base referred to in the following report by Reuters, reprinted in the NYT, is located in Upper Nile State, not Jonglei State]:

South Sudan’s army said that armed men attacked one of its bases in Jonglei State on Friday, killing at least eight soldiers. A spokesman for the south’s army, the Sudan People’s Liberation Army, said it had captured five of the attackers, who said they were working under orders of Gen. George Athor, a defeated candidate for governor of Jonglei, an oil-producing region. General Athor, a senior officer in the south’s army, denied involvement in the attack, saying soldiers in the base had mutinied after receiving orders to arrest him.

Mutinous troops attack south Sudan army near Malakal
From BBC News at 5:16 GMT, Friday, 30 April 2010 16:16 UK - excerpt:

At least eight people have been killed when mutinous troops attacked an army base in south Sudan following this month's elections, officials say.

A southern army spokesman said the mutineers backed a former general who ran and lost in a Jonglei state poll.

George Athor denied leading the troops but told the BBC he sympathised with them and said the polls were rigged.

The ex-rebel SPLM party won a landslide victory to retain power in the south, amid widespread claims of intimidation.

The 11-15 April elections were the first in 24 years - and the first since the end of a two-decade conflict between north and south.

The BBC's James Copnall in Khartoum says there have been intense negotiations for several days to avoid just this sort of problem in Southern Sudan.

Several senior southern soldiers contested the elections as independents and all but one lost.

Mr Athor ran for governor of Jonglei state as an independent when he did not get the SPLM nomination.

'Weapons stolen'

The Delab Hill barracks, 12km (7 miles) south of Malakal, were attacked.

The army spokesman said weapons were stolen.

"We managed to push back the attackers, but there are seven dead and nine injured among the troops," southern army spokesman Malaak Ayuen Ajok told AFP.

"Several attackers also lost their lives."

Malakal was the scene of fierce fighting between rival militias in 2009, and in 2006, which left at least 150 people dead.

Our correspondent says it is too early to tell if this is an isolated incident, or the start of a much bigger problem.

He says the voting process itself was largely peaceful, but tensions rose, particularly in the south, as accusations of electoral fraud began to multiply.

From Earthtimes (press release) Friday, 30 Apr 2010 16:57:42 GMT
By dpa Nairobi/Juba, Sudan:

Violence in the wake of Sudanese elections earlier this month has left at least eight people dead in the southern Sudanese city of Malakal, the Sudan Tribune reported Friday.

The newspaper said that armed militants attacked the barracks of the South Sudanese Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA).

The attackers were trained soldiers and supporters of an independent candidate who had campaigned against the reigning SPLM party to be governor of the state of Jonglei.

The SPLM is the political wing of the SPLA and was criticized for alleged vote manipulation in the country's first elections in 24 years.

The SPLM won the bulk of the votes in semi-independent Southern Sudan, which is expected to vote to secede from Sudan in a 2011 referendum.

Soldiers Loyal to Failed Gubernatorial Candidate Attack Army Barracks in Southern Sudan
From Voice of America - Friday, 30 April 2010 c. 7pm GMT UK [Note from Sudan Watch Editor: The army barracks referred to in the following report by VOA News are located in Upper Nile State, not Jonglei State] - excerpt:

An official in South Sudan has confirmed an attack this morning on an army barracks in Jongolei State. Reports say that as many as eight people were killed in the attack, believed to have been led by supporters of Major General George Athor, an independent candidate for governor in last week’s elections.

The barracks, located in the town of Doleb, houses soldiers of the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, some of whom are said to have taken part in the attack. [...]

Jongolei is one of the 26 states in the south to elect governors and legislators. General Athor ran unsuccessfully as an independent candidate against incumbent governor Kuol Manyang Juuk. Mustafa Biong Majak, an official with the Government of South Sudan, said causalities were taken to the Upper Nile State’s Malakal hospital for treatment.

“Those who did it ran away,” he said, “and the security forces are running after them.” He says later today, an SPLM spokesman will make a detailed statement on the incident.

Listen to Biong Majak discuss the attack:

Sources of the Sudan Tribune say the assault was authorized by General Athor, who lives in the nearby town of Khorfulus in Upper Nile state. Reuters news agency says Athor has denied any involvement.

SPLM candidate and incumbent president of the south Salvia Kiir was re-elected with over 90 percent of the vote. His rival Lam Akol of the splinter group SPLM-DC has accused his party of harassment and intimidation. He rejects the election results and says he plans to take the matter to court for adjudication. South Sudan is gearing for a referendum early next year that will decide if they secede from the north.

South Sudan army accuses poll candidate of attack
From Reuters by Skye Wheeler Friday 30 April 2010 12:09pm EDT
(Writing by Andrew Heavens; Editing by Maria Golovnina) - excerpt:

(JUBA, Sudan) - South Sudan's army accused a defeated election candidate of ordering an attack on one of its bases that killed at least eight soldiers Friday, stoking tensions days after the contested poll.

George Athor, defeated in the race to become governor of the south's oil-producing Jonglei state, denied ordering any attack, telling Reuters soldiers in the base had mutinied after receiving orders to arrest him.

Any confirmed involvement in the attack by Athor, who is also a senior officer in the south's army, would be a serious escalation in violence in the region, already hit by drought and clashes between heavily armed tribal groups. [...]

Athor and other independent candidates accused the south's dominant party, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), of harassing their supporters and rigging the vote.

The south's Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) said that armed men attacked the southern army base in Jonglei's Doleib Hill area, close to state capital Malakal, early Friday.

"We have full evidence the force was ordered by General George Athor," acting SPLA spokesman Malaak Ayuen told Reuters.

"He contested as a governor in Jonglei but lost," Ayuen said, adding that the intention behind the attack was unclear. "It was very surprising ... (We think) he became angry and is trying to create insecurity."

Ayuen said the army had captured five of the attackers who said they were working under Athor's orders.

Athor decided to run as an independent after failing to get the SPLM nomination. Speaking by satellite telephone from Jonglei, he denied having any forces in the area.

"They wanted to send a force to capture me but they refused to do this and now they were trying to arrest those officers who refused to go and attack me and so there was a mutiny," he said.

Athor said he did not know why they would want to arrest him. "You should ask Salva Kiir," he said, referring to the president of the semi-autonomous south. [...]

Further reading
Click on Matip, Jarch, Heilberg, labels here below to view some eye opening reports in Sudan Watch archives, including the following reports:

Sudan Watch - April 16, 2009: Ex Wall St banker Philippe Heilberg - US Jarch mulling more land leases in S. Sudan

Sudan Watch - October 19, 2009: South Sudan: UN airlifts Paulino Matip’s forces to Juba

UNMIS mandate extended - UN Security Council unanimously adopts resolution 1919 (2010)

ON THURSDAY, 29 April 2010, the UN Security Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in the Sudan (UNMIS) for one year, until 30 April 2011, with the intention to renew it for further periods if required.

Unanimously adopting resolution 1919 (2010), the Council called upon all parties to respect and abide without delay by their commitments under the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement, agreements on Darfur and the October 2006 Eastern Sudan Peace Agreement.

Click on http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2010/sc9916.doc.htm for further details and the full text of resolution 1919 (2010).

Sudan border: 'Hundred killed' in Chad clashes April 24 & 28

'Hundred killed' in Chad clashes
From BBC - 08:18 GMT, Friday, 30 April 2010 09:18 UK - excerpt:

Chad's government says the army has killed 105 insurgents and beaten back a new attack near the Sudan border, but the rebels have denied the claims.

FPRN leader Adoum Yacoub said both sides had lost lives but did not give any details.

"Our security forces... completely control the entire zone," said Chad's Information Minister Kedallah Younous, admitting that one soldier had been killed and eight wounded.

There are no independent reports from the area, which borders Sudan's volatile Darfur region.

Over 100 dead as Chad rebels clash with government
From RFI - Thursday, 29 April 2010 by RFI ‎- excerpt:

Two battles have taken place between the Chadian army and rebels in the east of the country near the Sudanese border. According to the government, 105 FPRN (Front Populaire pour la Renaissance Nationale) rebels and nine soldiers died in the fighting.

The minister of information Kedallah Younous announced on Wednesday evening that 80 rebels who were injured in the fighting were taken prisoner.

The FPRN is a member of the union of resistance forces, a coalition of insurgent organisations who are hostile to President Idriss Deby's government.

The union announced after the first battle on 24 April that the rebels had defeated the government forces, killing many soldiers and taking their weapons.

It has not issued a statement after the second battle, which took place on Wednesday. Neither battle has been independently verified.

Chad clash kills more than 100 rebels, soldiers
From (Xinhua) People's Daily Online - Thursday, 29 ‎April 2010‎ 20:54:

Gun battles in eastern Chad have killed more than 100 rebels and at least nine soldiers in the past week, according to information reaching here on Thursday from N'Djamena.

Fighting erupted on Saturday and Wednesday in Tamassi in the vicinity of the border with Sudan, state radio reported, citing Information Minister Kedallah Younous.

The Chadian army also captured dozens of members of the FPRN rebel group, which has been fighting against President Idriss Deby, according to the report.

106 killed in Chad clashes: government spokesman
From AFP - ‎Thursday, 29 April, 2010:

N'DJAMENA — Clashes in eastern Chad between the army and insurgents at the weekend claimed the lives of 105 rebels and one government soldier, the government spokesman said Thursday.

The fighting which started Saturday and continued until Monday claimed "105 lives and led to 62 rebels taken captive," said Kedellah Younous, who doubles up as communications minister.

"The army has lost a martyr and has eight men injured," he added.

The Popular Front for National Renaissance (PFNR), the only rebel movement currently operating inside the country, spoke of loss of life on both sides in the clashes.

The PFNR rebel chief Adoum Yacoub did not elaborate on the number of dead.

At the beginning of April, Chadian mediator Abderaman Moussa met rebel representatives in Sudan, and it was agreed to meet again in the first half of May.

Chadian army clashes with rebels
From Washington Post - Thursday, April 29, 2010; 9:52 AM
By Moumine Ngarmbassa (Reuters)
Writing by David Lewis; Editing by Giles Elgood - excerpt:

(N'DJAMENA) - Chad's government says its army killed more than 100 rebels and lost nine soldiers in two gun battles in eastern Chad this week, but the rebels say they inflicted heavy losses on the government forces.

The renewed violence in the east of oil-producing Chad comes amid N'Djamena's efforts to see United Nations peacekeepers leave the country ahead of elections, and improving ties with Sudan, which it previously accused of backing the rebels.

"Our security forces ... completely control the entire zone," Chad's Information Minister Kedallah Younous said.

The army also took 80 wounded rebels prisoner in the clash, which took place around Tamassi, near Chad's eastern border with Sudan, he said in a statement on state radio late on Wednesday.

The rebels involved in the fighting on April 24 and April 28 were from Adam Yacoub's FPRN rebel group, which is part of a coalition of insurgents that have been fighting against Chadian President Idriss Deby's government.

The UFR rebel coalition issued a statement after the April 24 clash, claiming the FPRN had defeated the army, inflicted heavy losses on government soldiers and recuperated weapons.

There was no independent version of events.

Yacoub's rebels are based in Chad, but other anti-Deby forces have launched assaults on Chad from Sudan. Over the last six years, Sudanese rebels have also used Chad's lawless east to launch attacks in Sudan's Darfur region..

The warming of relations between Chad and Sudan had led to talks between Chad's government and rebels.

But the UFR rebels called on all Chadian factions to provide military support to the FPRN forces, and warned Deby against trying to use violence to resolve Chad's problems.

This week's violence in Chad comes as the government and the United Nations agreed on winding down the number of U.N. peacekeepers in Chad to 1,900 from a full strength mission of over 5,000.

Chad, which will hold legislative elections this year and a presidential poll in 2011, has been pushing for the U.N. force, still in the process of deploying, to shut down. [...]

Security Situation in Darfur April 27 & 29 - UNAMID continues to follow developments in South Darfur

Darfur/UNAMID Daily Media Brief 2010-04-29
From United Nations – African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID)
EL FASHER (DARFUR), Sudan, April 30, 2010/APO:

Security situation in Darfur
The security situation in Darfur remains relatively calm, but unpredictable. UNAMID continues to follow developments in South Darfur.

UNAMID military forces conducted 96 patrols including routine, short range, long range, night, and Humanitarian escort patrols, covering 74 villages and Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps during the reporting period.

UNAMID police advisors also conducted 134 patrols in villages and IDP camps.

UNAMID DJSR Anyidoho begins farewell tour of Darfur
As he approaches the end of his tenure as UNAMID’s Deputy Joint Special Representative (DJSR/P), Henry Anyidoho today began his farewell tour with a visit to Nyala, South Darfur.

Upon arriving at UNAMID’s regional office in Nyala, the DJSR/P first addressed the Mission’s personnel, expressing his gratitude for their support during his term. Later, in a special ceremony, he was honored with a military guard and presented with plaques of recognition from each of the Nigerian, Chinese, Bangladeshi and Pakistani battalions stationed in the region.

Next week, the DJSR/P plans to visit UNAMID’s offices in El Geneina and Zalingei in West Darfur.

DJSR Anyidoho served with the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS). He was appointed to his present post in August 2007, when UNAMID was established. During his tenure, the Mission saw the deployment of its uniformed and civilian personnel reach over 85% and witnessed immense strides made in the Darfur peace process.

Before arriving in Darfur, Henry Anyidoho, a decorated retired General from the Ghanaian army, served in peacekeeping missions around the world, including Lebanon, Cambodia, Liberia and Rwanda. He also headed the UN Assistance Cell that provided strategic level advice to AMIS.

Darfur/UNAMID Daily Media Brief 2010-04-27
From United Nations – African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID)
EL FASHER (DARFUR), Sudan, April 28, 2010/APO:

Security situation
The security situation in Darfur remains relatively calm, but unpredictable. UNAMID continues to follow developments in South Darfur.

UNAMID military forces conducted 99 patrols including routine, short range, long range, night, and Humanitarian escort patrols, covering 98 villages and Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps during the reporting period. UNAMID police advisors also conducted 126 patrols in villages and IDP camps.

UNAMID Police Commissioner ends his tour of duty
UNAMID Police Commissioner Micheal Fryer of South Africa has ended his tour of duty after serving the Mission for two years. He was appointed by the Chairperson of the African Union, in consultation with the United Nations Secretary-General, in November 2007 to head the police component of the African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur.

Commissioner Fryer was responsible for implementing all aspects of the UNAMID police mandate, providing greater security and stability to the people of Darfur. He has undertaken several challenging tasks since the inception of the Mission, including building confidence for the people of Kalma internally displaced persons (IDPs) camp, organizing long range patrols from El Obeid to El Fasher, a distance of more than 700 kilometers bringing vital Mission equipment and vehicles. The Commissioner also led long distance patrols in and around villages and IDP camps throughout the region in order to build confidence with the local community, establish relations with the local police and enhance security.

Before his appointment, Mr. Fryer headed his country’s police force’s Specialized Operation Division for several years and, prior to this, served as Commander of the South African Special Task Force.

Human Rights workshop on peacekeeping operations begins in Geneva
UNAMID senior officials yesterday joined representatives from over 20 other agencies and peacekeeping operations in Geneva for the start of a three-day seminar on the integration of human rights in the work of UN police and military components in peace operations.

The workshop aims at providing a forum for the exchange of ideas on how to enhance cooperation between Human Rights and uniformed components in such areas as monitoring, advocacy, capacity building and the protection of civilians.

- - -

On Friday 23 April in S. Darfur, W. Sudan:

50 killed, 80 injured in Rizeigat-SPLA clashes

Fifty Killed in Rizeigat-SPLA Clashes
From SRS - Sudan Radio Service:

Monday, 26 April 2010 - (Al-Rizeigat) – More than 50 people were killed and over 80 others injured following clashes between the SPLA and the Rizeigat community in southern Darfur.

According to Reuters, an SPLA soldier killed 5 officials from the National Congress Party in Raja, Western Bahr al Ghazal state during the five days of voting which began on April 11.

The commissioner of Al-Rizeigat, Al-Hadi al-Mahdi, confirmed to SRS on Sunday [25 April] that there had been clashes in the area.

[Al-Hadi al-Mahdi]: “Yesterday, I went to that area myself and I have seen a number of people injured. This situation is very dangerous and it might worsen if the authorities do not intervene to stop it. We are definitely against such actions. The SPLA attacked Al-Rizeigat, particularly in the Al-Balballa area which is around 286 kilometers south of Al-Deain town. A lot of people died and others were affected in other ways following the attack. This has been going on for three days now, today being the fourth. Yesterday it was a bit calm. What we know is that from Al-Rizeigat around 58 people died and 80 others were injured. We do not know how many were killed or injured from the SPLA side.”

SRS also spoke to the SPLM secretary in Southern Darfur who confirmed the incidents.

Suleiman Eshak spoke to SRS by phone on Sunday from Nyala.

[Suleiman Eshak]: “We got information yesterday that there had been some clashes between SPLA forces and the Rizeigat. We haven’t yet found out what exactly caused the fighting but one thing for sure is the fact that both sides have lost some of their men. We have sent a delegation to the areas to investigate and come up with a report. We have not yet been able to confirm the exact number of persons killed.”

Eshak urged the communities living in the border between Darfur and southern Sudan to live together peacefully.

- - -

Ban Jadid, S. Darfur, W. Sudan:

82 killed, 25 wounded following clashes in Al Wihda

Eighty Killed in Darfur Fighting
From SRS - Sudan Radio Service:

Friday, 23 April 2010 - (Rumbek) – At least eighty people were killed and several others injured in Ban Jadid following recent clashes in Al-Wihda payam in South Darfur state.

A citizen from Ban-Jadid who spoke to SRS under conditions of anonymity said that about 82 people have been killed.

[Voice 1 Arabic]: “These clashes were tribal fights which started at a water point between a few people and then grew and became a big fight, there has been some attacks here and there. So around 82 were killed while 25 were wounded. The attacks started yesterday at around 6.30 in the morning until around 4.30 in the evening.”

The commissioner of Al-Wehda payam, Al-Nour Jabir spoke to SRS from Darfur on Wednesday. He said the situation is now under control.

[Al-Nour Jabir]: “There had been some clashes between two groups in the Ban Jadid area in which some people lost their lives while other were wounded. But two days ago, the security forces took control of the area and ever since no clashes have been reported. There was also a committee formed to investigate on the cause of the fighting. There is also another committee which will assess the amount of damage caused.”

The commissioner of Al-Wehda payam, Al-Nour Jabir was speaking to SRS on Wednesday.

- - -

Related reports

SPLA clashes with South Darfur tribal elements in border area
From Sudan Tribune - Sunday 25 April 2010:

April 24, 2010 (KHARTOUM) – Southern Sudan army and armed cattle herders from Rizeigat tribe clashed today in the border area between Western Bahr el-Ghazal and South Darfur, amid reports of human causalities. [...]

17 killed in clashes between SPLA, Rizeigat tribe in south Darfur
From Xinhua - Sunday, 25 April 2010 - via Global Times:

17 civilians were killed on Saturday and 11 others wounded in armed clashes between Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA), the military arm of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), and Rizeigat tribe in South Darfur State in western Sudan.

"These confrontations, which took place today, came as a result of provocations by the SPLA, which infuriated members of the Rizeigat tribe at the area and pushed them to confront elements of the SPLA", Mohamed Iyssa Elaio, Chairman of Rizeigat tribe's Shura (consultation) council, told Xinhua. [...]

Southern Sudan forces attacked near Darfur: SPLA
From AFP – 3 days ago

KHARTOUM — Southern Sudanese forces have been attacked by government troops, the spokesman for the Sudan People's Liberation Army said on Saturday, but the army denied having anything to do with the operation.

"A company of 120 SPLA soldiers was attacked on Friday night by armed men wearing uniforms of the northern (central government) army that was heavily equipped," Major General Kuol Deim Kuol of the former southern rebels said.

The incident occurred in Raja district in the southern state of Western Bahr al-Ghazal, which borders the war-torn western region of Darfur. [...]

Head of Darfur authority urges to deal seriously with tribal fighting‎
From Sudan Tribune - Friday, 23 April 2010:

April 22, 2010 (KHARTOUM) - Minni Minnawi, Sudanese Senior Presidential Assistant and head of Darfur transitional authority urged the government of South Darfur state to use the necessary means to stop tribal fighting in South Darfur.

During a meeting held in Nyala on Wednesday with the South Darfur caretaker governor Omer Abdel Jabar, the head of Darfur transitional authority asked the state government to act seriously in order stop the fighting between the local tribes.

Clashes between between Rizeigat and Al-Saada tribes in Wohda district over cattle rustling during this week resulted in the killing of more than 50 people and the burning to different villages. The state authorities were accused of not reacting swiftly to stop the tribal fighting. [...]

Clashes kill over 52 in Darfur
From AfricaNews.com Thursday, 22 April 2010 by Muhyadin Ahmed Roble, AfricaNews reporter in Nairobi, Kenya:

At least 52 people were killed in Sudan after clashes between two rival tribes in the volatile southern region. The clashes between Rizeigat and al-Sada tribes erupted on Tuesday at various areas, some 61 kilometres north of Nyala, the capital city of South Darfur State.

Reports said that the clashes resulted in the death of 40 members of al-Sada tribe and other 12 members of Rizeigat tribe.

Fifty-five others were wounded in the volatile southern region and the fighting was going on more than five hours, Khartoum’s Al Ahdath daily reported.

Clashes between rival tribes happened repeatedly in south Sudan because of disagreements over natural resources and other crimes. [...]

Over 50 killed in renewed Darfur tribal clashes
From Xinhua - via Daily Nation - Wednesday, 21 April 2010:

PHOTO: Fighters of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) led by Khalil Ibrahim in this picture taken in 2008. The rebel group signed a temporary ceasefire deal with Sudan breaking a standstill in the Darfur peace process. Photo/REUTERS

(KHARTOUM/DOHA, Wednesday) - Fifty-two civilians have been killed and 55 others wounded in renewed tribal clashes in Sudan’s South Darfur State, Khartoum media reported Wednesday.

“Violent clashes broke out Tuesday between Rizeigat and al-Sada tribes at various areas, some 61 kilometres north of Nyala, the capital city of South Darfur State,” Khartoum’s Al Ahdath daily reported.

The clashes, which involved heavy weapons and lasted for more than five hours, resulted in the killing of 40 members of al-Sada tribe and 12 members of Rizeigat tribe, according to the newspaper. [...]

52 civilians killed in renewed tribal clashes in Darfur
From China Daily (Xinhua) Wednesday, 21 April 2010:

KHARTOUM - Fifty-two civilians have been killed and 55 others wounded in renewed tribal clashes in Sudan's South Darfur State, Khartoum media reported Wednesday.

"Violent clashes broke out Tuesday between Rizeigat and al-Sada tribes at various areas, some 61 kilometers north of Nyala, the capital city of South Darfur State," Khartoum's Al Ahdath daily reported.

The clashes, which involved heavy weapons and lasted for more than five hours, resulted in the killing of 40 members of al-Sada tribe and 12 members of Rizeigat tribe, according to the newspaper.

In the meantime, Khartoum's Al Ray Al A'm daily quoted commissioner of Wohda in South Darfur State as saying that two security committees of the state and Wohda are present at the sites and that the situation has been under control. [...]

Over 50 killed after tribal clashes in South Darfur
From Sudan Tribune - Thursday, 22 April 2010:

Wednesday, 21 April 2010 (KHARTOUM) — Over Fifty civilians have been killed and dozens wounded in renewed clashes between two nomad tribes in Sudan’s South Darfur State.

The clashes broke out over cattle rustling on Tuesday between Rizeigat and Al-Saada tribes in Al-Ban Jadid, Wohda district, some 61 kilometers north of Nyala, the capital city of South Darfur State .

The clashes between the two Arab tribes, which involved heavy weapons and lasted for more than five hours, resulted in the killing of more than 50 people from both sides. However there are contradictory reports about the number of victims from each side.

Al-Sudani daily newspaper reported that Rizeigat armed elements used trucks equipped with heavy machine guns to attack and burn three villages near Al-Ban Jadid.

The Rizeigat who are living in northern Darfur and Chad are largely involved in the ongoing conflict in Darfur where they fight against the rebel groups. They clashed in the past against the Messeriya and the Turgum ethnic groups, both also are nomad groups, for the control of water sources and land.

In the meantime, Khartoum’s Al Ray Al A’m daily quoted commissioner of Wohda in South Darfur State as saying that two security committees of the state and Wohda are present at the sites and that the situation has been under control. [...]

Kass county commissioner issues decree on disarmament

From SRS - Sudan Radio Service, Wednesday, 21 April 2010:

(Kaas, Darfur) – The commissioner of Kaas county in south Darfur state on Monday issued a decree on disarmament to be carried out in the state.

Most citizens supported the move but expressed concerns over the implementation process.

[Abdallah]: “Despite the fact that this came late, we still believe it is a very good initiative. Our only concern now becomes the implementation of that order. But some questions are raised following the commissioner’s decision, such as why would he make the decision now? Could there be motives behind it that will work for his interests? For example, may be he has done that because of the elections thus he might want the citizens to see that he cares about them. So why now after the suffering that the people have undergone”

However, some citizens did not support the move saying that the exercise will not have any positive impact as some areas are excluded.

[Mohammed]: “I think they are not serious with this order, because they are suppose to disarm all the areas not only Kaas, and also they do not search the houses, so if someone is hiding a gun in the house and just walks around with it at night then do then how can that be serious? If they are planning to seriously implement this, then that is good for the citizens, but if they only expect the people not to walk with guns in the streets without planning to search the houses then who is suppose to disarm the citizens?”

Those were citizens of Kaas county, in south Darfur state speaking to SRS on Wednesday from Darfur.

Thousands in Kass in plight after attacks on Darfur villages
Radio Dabanga - via Ethiopian Review - 2nd April 2010:

Thousands of villagers have gathered in Kass amid fear of attacks and fighting in South Darfur. One observer estimated that 7000 families are in the area, but an aid worker told Radio Dabanga that the Humanitarian Aid Commission puts the number at 14,000 househoulds and 43,000 individuals in 16 locations.

An UN inter-agency team has conducted an assessment in the area but a spokesman for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Khartoum could not provide details. The number is unconfirmed.

In all, some of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) came about 32 days ago but most came 8 days ago. The refugees are mainly from the Misseriya tribe but also include some from Beni Hassan, Houtia, Fur, Gimr and Taalba. They came to Kass after clashes between Misseriya and Nuwayba, a camel herding subtribe of the Rizeigat Arabs.

Misseriya IDPs described the attacks as undertaken by the government. They said that some attackers were wearing uniforms. In Bulbul, 30 kilometres from Kass, villagers fled when they heard and saw the oncoming attackers. They also witnessed attackers shoot some men and women and drive over bodies with vehicles. Minister of Defence Abdel Rahim Mohamed Hussein appointed an investigation committee to determine whether the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have been involved in the tribal clashes between the Nuwayba and Misseriya. There are no Nuwayba IDPs in Kass.

John Ratcliffe, a spokesman for the UN OCHA, said that an UN inter-agency team and partners have conducted an assessment of the situation and were delivering some nutritional and food aid. Likewise, a local source said today that CARE-Switzerland in partnership with UNICEF provided some nutrition kits to children but there were not enough for everyone.

Tearfund is planning to distribute shelters but the Humanitarian Aid Commission will not permit them to set up shelters until a location for an IDP camp is designated.

The total IDP population of Darfur is typically estimated to be 2.7 million. (Radio Dabanga)