Defected commander in Unity state confirms presence of Sudanese rebels
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December 28, 2013 (BENTIU) - Defected fourth division commander in
Unity state Maj. Gen. James Koang Chuol has warned Sudanese rebels
against becoming involved in South Sudanese affairs.
JPEG - 32.9 kb
Fighters with Sudan’s Justice and Equality (JEM) Movement in
al-Fasher, northern Darfur, on July 25, 2011 (Ashraf Shazly AFP/Getty)
In an interview with Sudan Tribune on Saturday, Koang confirmed
presence of Sudanese rebels from the Justices and Equality Movement
(JEM) in Parieng county.
He says he received reports from his troops on the ground that JEM
fighters had come down from Nuba Mountains and are currently occupying
Parieng after Juba blocked their supply route from Unity state.
“Yes, we received report that they [JEM] want to interfere. This
evening we received a report from Parieng because it is not under our
control. We learned that they came out from Nuba Mountain and and
attacked”, said Koang.
The defected general has ordered the Sudanese rebels to leave the area
within two days otherwise his troops will launch military action,
saying the current conflict on South Sudan does not concern them.
“These are the Southerners fighting themselves no need for involvement
for other people”, Koang emphasised.
An aid agency worker in Yida refugee camp who spoke on condition of
anonymity, told Sudan Tribune that he had seen JEM rebels with heavy
armoured vehicles and ammunitions passing through the refugee camp on
their way to Parieng on Friday.
Koang announced on Saturday evening that his forces had repulsed an
attack from government troops and militia loyal to Maj.Gen. Pul Jang.
He said over 26 armoured vehicles, as well as heavy weaponry was
captured from troops belonging to the former rebel group South Sudan
Liberation Army (SSLA), while two tanks were also captured from
government forces.
He confirmed over 50 soldiers from both government and SSLA troops had
been killed, while many others had also surrendered.
Unity is the second state to fall to anti-government forces, with
Jonglei state capital Bor also falling under rebel control after
conflict erupted in the country earlier this month.
Forces led by Koang, who have aligned themselves with former
vice-president Riek Machar, seized Unity capital Bentiu and other
parts of the northern region on 21 December, with oil production shut
down last week as the security situation deteriorated.
Fighting broke out in the South Sudan capital, Juba, on 15 December
following a dispute between members of the Nuer and Dinka tribes in
the presidential guard.
President Salva Kiir has accused Machar and his supporters of
orchestrating an alleged coup attempt to overthrow his government.
The UN says at least 1,000 people have died in the ensuing violence,
which has led to increased ethnic tensions across the country.
(ST)
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