Date: Fri, 20 Mar 2015 08:38:30 -0600
http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article54329
March 18, 2015 (KAMPALA) – Officials of the opposition faction of the Sudan
Peoples’ Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO) led by former vice-president, Riek
Machar, have accused president Salva Kiir’s government of backing new
Ethiopian rebels against Addis Ababa.
*President **Salva* *Kiir** (L) and rebel leader **Riek* *Machar** (R)
attend the signing a ceasefire agreement during an **IGAD** summit on the
South Sudan crisis in Addis Ababa on 1 February 2015 (Photo: Reuters/*
*Tiksa* *Negeri**)*
“We have received reports on the ground that the dictatorial regime in Juba
has now resorted to hosting, organising, training and arming Ethiopian
rebels,” said Machar’s spokesperson, James Gatdet Dak.
Dak told *Sudan Tribune* on Wednesday that SalvaKiir’s government has
helped in recruiting Ethiopian rebel fighters from the communities of
Oromo, Anyuak, Nuer and the South Sudanese community of Murle to
destabilise the western region of Gambella.
The rebel official claimed a sizable number of the Ethiopian rebels
reportedly also took part in the recent government’s offensive against
positions of SPLM-IO in eastern Upper Nile state, which he said aimed to
advance towards the Ethiopian border.
“The Ethiopian rebels took part in the recent offensive which the
government launched from Guelguk. Their aim was to advance towards the
Ethiopian border and cross into Gambella region to launch attacks against
the Ethiopian government,” he further said.
Different sources said Ethiopian troops have started to deploy towards
their common border with South Sudan in response to the possible attacks
aiming to hamper the upcoming elections in Ethiopia.
Sudan Tribune could not reach the current governor of Gambella region,
Gatluak Tut Khot, for comment. But unauthorised sources denied rebel
accusations of Juba support to the Ethiopian rebels and their participation
in the recent military clashes.
"Remember similar claims were made in the past about the involvement of
Ugandan troops alongside government forces in Upper Nile and Unity states,
but the reality is that Uganda has no ground forces in these places except
air cover," a government official said under the cover of anonymity.
The new Ethiopian rebel group is said to be led by the former Gambella
regional governor Thowat Pal Chai, who played a great role in establishing
camps for the SPLM/A in 1983 during the 21 years of civil war with Sudan.
Among the camps he helped established with the SPLM/A former leader John
Garang included the military headquarters, Bilpam and refugee camps of
Itang, Dimma and Pinyudo, all located within the territory of Gambella
region.
Pal, who fled to exile since 1991, was serving under the former Ethiopian
president Mengistu Haile Mariam who was overthrown by the present
government.
Relationship between Juba and Addis Ababa has hit its all-time low as
president Kiir’s government suspects Ethiopia to be supporting the
opposition leader, Machar.
Kiir also in an interview last week with *The East African* suggested that
Kenya was also supporting Machar’s group.
"The problem is that Igad is treating the coup plotters as innocent people
who simply protested against the government, yet there was nothing wrong
with the government," president Kiir told *The East African*.
Juba has also been accusing the Sudanese government of training and arming
the South Sudanese rebels, an accusation Khartoum denies and instead
accuses its southern neighbour of hosting and arming its various rebel
groups.
(ST)
Ibrahim I. Suliman.
Cyber Adal press & publishing
(image/jpeg attachment: president_salva_kiir_l_and_rebel_leader_ri