Heavy fighting in Unity State (Bentiu)

This is a per Sad News for Nuer Society to kill each other while they have common enemy
God be blees those who get kill




Fresh clashes erupt in Sudan’s Unity state: sources
Saturday 3 October 2009 04:30. Printer-Friendly version Comments...

October 3, 2009 (LONDON) — Heavy fighting erupted today afternoon in the capital of Unity State Bentiu between troops of southern Sudan army loyal to the General Paulino Matip and the forces led by Governor Taban Deng Gai.

The clashes broke out in the oil rich state when soldiers from the SPLA Division 4 under the command of the State Governor attempted to disarm the bodyguards of Lt. Gen Paulino Matib Nhial, Deputy SPLA Commander in Chief.

13 people were killed and some other 19 wounded. During the first round of attack, 8 soldiers from both sides and 3 civilians were killed and 17 of them were seriously wounded. Two soldiers were killed in the second attack and 2 persons were seriously wounded.

The conflict started as an argument between two bodyguards and escalated into confrontation between the two groups.

A statement issued by the office of the Southern Sudan Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar confirmed the fighting saying "soldiers at the headquarters of Gen. Paulino were attacked while the rest was out of the barrack taking pictures for military identifications cards."

Paulino Matib and his troops evacuated the town to nearby location "for re-organization for good protection" informed sources who requested anonymity told Sudan tribune

However, a delegation from Nuer elders are now seeking to mediate in order to scale down the tension and forestall further escalation

The influential Nuer leader, Gen. Paulino Matip, integrated the SPLA following the signature of Juba Declaration with the southern Sudan leader, Salva Kiir Mayardit on January 8, 2006. However his troops remain aside under his control despite their integration in the southern Sudan army.

General Matip was in favor of the removal of Governor Gai who is contested by many legislators in the state. However, it seems that South Sudan President Salva Kiir declined a request from Gen Matip in this respect.

The deputy SPLA Commander in Chief also has been angered by the defection of two of his close aides who formed their own forces. Sources say Paulino suspects some generals in the southern Sudan army of instigating the moves.

Matip’s nephew, Col. Maluk, who was commander of Matip forces in Juba, left his uncle’s headquarters and formed his own camp within Juba. Again Maj. Gen. Taib Gatluak, also from Bull Nuer, left Matip’s headquarters and formed his own.

Rivalry between Matip and Gai goes back to the 90’s when Taban Deng Gai had been elected by the Unity assembly in accordance of a peace agreement signed in April 1997 between Sudanese government and the former rebel United Democratic Defense Forces (UDSF) but he had been expelled from the governorship of Unity State by Paulino Matip’s militia.

(ST)


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