S. Sudan Accuses Sudan of Deadly attack in Abyei

{{South Sudan has accused the government of neighbouring Sudan with which it contests the ownership of the oil-producing region of Abyei of carrying out a deadly attack on Friday.}}

Two people were killed and three other injured during the attack, which occurred in the Nyincuor area on Friday morning, Deng Biong, a government official assigned Abyei file by South Sudan president Salva Kiir Mayardit told media.

Biong said authorities are yet to determine who carried out the attack, although it is believed Sudan is behind it.

Biong revealed that United Nations Interim force for Abyei (UNISFA) had been alerted by community members of the looming attack, but had failed to deploy peace keeping forces to the area in advance.

“Actually UNISFA accepted in principle to deploy, unfortunately we do not know what happened that they could not deploy until the area was attacked despite being notified in advance,” Biong said.

South Sudanese army (SPLA) spokesperson Colonel Philip Aguer said armed elements loyal to the government in Khartoum had been carrying out attacks in the area since the former withdrew in compliance with a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution demanding immediate pulling out of all armed forces in accordance with the 20 June 2011 agreement on the area.

Aguer has denied allegations by Khartoum and the UN that SPLA forces are present in Abyei.

“The SPLA forces have no presence in Abyei. We have said this time and again. Our forces never returned to Abyei area after withdrawal in 2011,” he said.

“It is the Misseriya [tribe] with some armed elements and militia group loyal to the government in Sudan which has been carrying out the attack in the area. Their presence in the area illegally is justified by the killing of the paramount chief of the Ngok Dinka,” he added.

General Kuol Monyluak, head of the South Sudan supported local administration, has also confirmed the attack.

The government of Sudan is working to invade the area once again through such attacks and killing of innocent civilians yet the international community is keeping silence,” Monyluak said on Friday.

{sudantribune}