Aguer: the Sudan Armed Forces planned this
In South Sudan the atmosphere is still euphoric. In January the people chose for separation of the South in the referendum of January. On the 9th of July the South will officially become independent. Abyei has however always been a sensitive issue. Did a nightmare come true yesterday? Will Abyei spoil the dream of the South?
In South Sudan the atmosphere is still euphoric. In January the people chose for separation of the South in the referendum of January. On the 9th of July the South will officially become independent. Abyei has however always been a sensitive issue. Did a nightmare come true yesterday? Will Abyei spoil the dream of the South?Sadiq Amir, the highest military spokesperson of the Sudanese Armed Forces announced at a press conference today that Abyei officially is a war-zone. ‘The war is on full fledged, there are casualties, wounded, refugees and fires. If you want me to say, Abyei is a holiday destination, I will say, Abyei is a holiday destination. But the reality is that it is a war zone and it has to be a war zone. If you are forced to fight and you refuse to fight you are in violation. We have been brought into a situation in which we are forced to reply.’
An interview by Radio Dabanga with Philip Aguer, the spokesperson of the SPLA provided a different story.
Aguer stated that the Sudan Armed Forces already started with the plans to take Abyei in 2009, and denied any diplomatic solution for the land issue. Besides this, he said the government in Khartoum started with arming their forces. ‘With this I want to take away any rumors that we would have started this incident.’
‘What happened was as follows. While the unit was moving northwards, suddenly a shot was launched. After that the Sudan Armed Forces immediately started shooting on SPLA soldiers with RPG 7, and that is how it started.’
Aguer believes the incident could have been prevented by first investigating about the initial shot, but he believes it was the plan of Khartoum to take in Abyei, and this was used as an excuse.
‘The Sudanese Armed Forces launched attacks on Abyei from the air and from the ground. Four villages have been burned to the ground: Makil, Loun, Tajalei and Lau. These villages are in the north-west and north-east of Abyei. At the same time Abyei is being attacked from the South.’
On the question what steps can be expected from the SPLA, Aguer answered that they first want peace and a stop to the fighting. ‘We prefer dialogue, and will restrain ourselves, unless we are being attacked, than we have the right to defend ourselves… if, however, the North wants war, they will get it.’
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