S. Sudanese army pursuing rebel forces in Warrap state
L'esercito sudanese del Sud (SPLA) ha dichiarato di aver schierato truppe nello stato di Warrap, dopo che le forze dissidenti che si oppongono all'attuale governo hanno ucciso diverse persone a Tonj Nord e in altre contee orientali durante la scorsa settimana.
Those who carried out the attack, in which two others were wounded,
reportedly possessed heavy weapons. Survivors of the attack said several
herds of cattle were driven away while a number of women and children
went missing.
Local residents and government officials have
expressed fears that those at large since the Thursday attack may have
eventually been killed.
Over the years, the lack of a border
control mechanisms coupled with the army’s ineffectiveness have largely
turned the region straddling three states of Lakes, Warrap and unity
over the past years into a hub for cattle raiding activities between
communities and successive rebel groups.
Recently, however, the
SPLA third division covering Northern Bahr el Ghazal and Warrap states
responded to pleas from the local population and deployed a battalion to
provide protection, pursue and flush out rebel elements allegedly using
swampy areas as their hiding grounds.
"I learned today that
comrade Santino Deng Wol, who commands our forces in division three, has
responded positively to the pleas by our people, especially those in
the areas bordering unity state to be accorded maximum security
attention. He deployed a battalion to the effect", Kuot Deng Kuot, a
Member of Parliament representing Gogrial East county in Warrap said
Sunday.
Kuot gave no details of the military operation, but blamed
forces loyal to South Sudan’s former vice president, Riek Machar for
the violence.
Police spokesman, Colonel James Monday said they had
increased the number of police forces in the area so as to provide
security and protect lives of civilians as well as their properties.
"The
current security situation in that area has opened a chance for some
criminals. Some of the activities are carried out by the armed civilians
and others are carried out by rebel forces to exploit this and to
attack the area", Monday told Sudan Tribune.
The SPLA and
police have now deployed joint force to provide protection to the civil
population living in that triangle region, he added.
The senior
police officer, however, acknowledged that there have been some hostile
movement and activities destabilising civilian life over the past years,
despite the numerous peace conference organised by authorities in these
regions.
Source Sudan Tribune
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