Home
Yien Wed Aug 25, 2010 8:01 pmSouth Sudan to step up pursuit of renegade general
Wednesday 25 August 2010 Send
August 24, 2010 (JUBA) — The Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) vowed to bring one of its generals who defected last May following his loss in the gubernatorial elections in Jonglei state against the incumbent governor Kuol Manyang Juuk last April.
SPLA spokesperson Kuol Deim Kuol speaking to reporters said that the South Sudan army seeks to assert security ahead of the referendum scheduled for early next year.
“I can tell you, we want to arrest him [General George Athor] alive or dead”, Kuol said before cautioning that the swampy terrain is slowing the process.
The general has been in hiding, emerging only for sporadic clashes with the army ever since his defection and recently the South Sudan government said it nabbed a helicopter carrying several of Athor’s soldiers and munitions on its way back to Khartoum.
Kuol disclosed that the army attacked the infamous rebel hideouts at Payakyak in Jonglei’s Khorfulus County this month, killing 39 of Athor’s soldiers. The rebels, however, managed to kill 2 army soldiers in the shootout.
The Undersecretary, Bior Ajang of the Ministry of SPLA Affairs, which is charged with designing the SPLA policies and handling administrative issues, said Athor will be tackled militarily in protecting the referendum.
“Fighting him to either get hold of him or kill him is what can help the people of southern Sudan,” Ajang said during the briefing alongside the SPLA spokesperson.
“I am opposing the idea of not fighting him to allow people go for the referendum,” he added.
South Sudan will hold a referendum on secession in January, and most analysts believe the under-developed region will opt for independence. Renegade attacks, tribal clashes and other insecurity have raised fears that conflict may spill over into neighbouring east Africa.
Wednesday 25 August 2010 Send
August 24, 2010 (JUBA) — The Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) vowed to bring one of its generals who defected last May following his loss in the gubernatorial elections in Jonglei state against the incumbent governor Kuol Manyang Juuk last April.
SPLA spokesperson Kuol Deim Kuol speaking to reporters said that the South Sudan army seeks to assert security ahead of the referendum scheduled for early next year.
“I can tell you, we want to arrest him [General George Athor] alive or dead”, Kuol said before cautioning that the swampy terrain is slowing the process.
The general has been in hiding, emerging only for sporadic clashes with the army ever since his defection and recently the South Sudan government said it nabbed a helicopter carrying several of Athor’s soldiers and munitions on its way back to Khartoum.
Kuol disclosed that the army attacked the infamous rebel hideouts at Payakyak in Jonglei’s Khorfulus County this month, killing 39 of Athor’s soldiers. The rebels, however, managed to kill 2 army soldiers in the shootout.
The Undersecretary, Bior Ajang of the Ministry of SPLA Affairs, which is charged with designing the SPLA policies and handling administrative issues, said Athor will be tackled militarily in protecting the referendum.
“Fighting him to either get hold of him or kill him is what can help the people of southern Sudan,” Ajang said during the briefing alongside the SPLA spokesperson.
“I am opposing the idea of not fighting him to allow people go for the referendum,” he added.
South Sudan will hold a referendum on secession in January, and most analysts believe the under-developed region will opt for independence. Renegade attacks, tribal clashes and other insecurity have raised fears that conflict may spill over into neighbouring east Africa.
