Abyei sparks fear of all-out war

[sudan]

i think war will start again between sudan and south sudan

 

[sudan]

No one believes that the dispute over Abyei can be stumbling block that obstructs lasting settlement for remaining disputed issues between Sudan and South Sudan. The dispute is normal, but it's expected to lead to all-out war between the two countries sooner or later.

It's evident that the dispute over the oil rich area has involved many parties including Washington and international powers in addition to the two parties to dispute.

In essence, the dispute is not so complicated to lead to war, but the South Sudanese leaders originally from the region have complicated the dispute due to historical factors or personal motives.

It's visible that the the crisis in South Kordofan especially in the Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile is no difference.

Throughout Sudan's history, Abyei was not part of the conflict until lately in 2005 when the issue was raised just to stimulate SPLM leaders coming from the region as a reward for fighting with the rebel movement. During Jafar Numeiri regime, Abyei was to annex to Bahrel Ghazal, but Dinka Ngok has opposed the proposal proffering being part of the north.

SPLM former leader, the late John Garang has proposed sharing the cake with the fighters and leaders coming from from the two areas. In other words, Dr. Garang has insisted on giving his colleagues some privileges in the comprehensive peace agreement because he was convinced that war is meaningless.

Were not of Ali Osman Muhamed Taha, the head of negotiating team,South Kordofan and Blue Nile would have given special status similar to that of Abyei.

As fighters and leaders within Sudan People's Liberation Army for 20 years, they have insisted on placing more emphasis on the dispute. They are worried that the area could be annexed to Sudan through the referendum; therefore they have embarked on heating up the dispute to lead to war between the two sides.

Lately, the Southern Sudanese army killed about 54 Sudanese nationals including merchants and shepherds and the looted about 1,600 heads of cattle.

The victims belong to the Misseriya in Abyei and Amuslamyia in south Blue Nile region. The South Sudanese side has obstructed peaceful settlement of the dispute including the referendum stipulated by Abyei special protocol. Accordingly, the disputed aarea is expected to spark the coming comprehensive war.

Abyei sparks fear of all-out war

 

[waltky]

You're probably right...

Four Dead in Cattle Raid Near South Sudan Capital
May 06, 2013 - Four people died when they were caught in the middle of a gunfight between cattle raiders and security officers near Juba, a spokesman for the national police force said Monday.

Three of the dead were civilians and the fourth victim was a member of the South Sudanese army who was not involved in the fighting, police spokesman James Monday Enoka told a news conference.

Cattle in Warrap State South Sudan

The fighting broke out in the early hours of Sunday when suspected Murle cattle raiders attacked.a livestock market in Gumbo, two kilometers (1.2 miles) outside Juba, Enoke said. The three civilians who were killed worked at the livestock market, he said. "The criminals took [an] unspecified number of cows and according to our reports some of the criminals were injured,” he said. The police and army were able to recover some of the cattle before the raiders fled, Enoka said.

Security teams from the police and SPLA were still pursuing the raiders Monday and attempting to recover the rest of the stolen cattle. Enoka says attempted raids on the market are common, but the police are usually able to chase the raiders away without violence. He blamed the fatalities on Sunday on the high number of illegal guns in South Sudan, an in Juba in particular.

Four Dead in Cattle Raid Near South Sudan Capital

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HIV in South Sudan Army Twice National Rate
May 06, 2013 — The HIV infection rate among soldiers in the South Sudanese army is nearly twice the national average, the head of the country's AIDS Commission has said, citing recently released data.

Esterina Novello Nyliok, the head of the South Sudan AIDS Commission, said data from 2012 show the HIV rate in the SPLA, the South Sudanese army, stands at five percent, or nearly double the national rate of 2.6 percent. The commission gathered data for the first time in 2012 about the rate of HIV infection in the armed forces, she said.

Dau Aleer Abit, the commander of the SPLA’s medical corps, said many soldiers do not take steps to prevent HIV transmission, but added that the SPLA is working to increase awareness among soldiers about how HIV is spread. The number of HIV awareness units will be boosted from 20 to 43, he said. Each unit will be stationed at a base and will be staffed by nine officers, who will be recruited from within the ranks of the army.

An aid worker [C] talks to Sudanese soldiers and scouts on how to spread the message on HIV/AIDS at an internally displaced camp in Juba, southern Sudan

The units provide anti-retroviral drugs for HIV-positive soldiers and test for the virus, among other services, but, Abit said, soldiers don't avail themselves of the services of the units on a regular basis, largely because of the stigma and shame associated with being HIV-positive. "The stigma that somebody is labeled to have HIV, usually makes people shy away" from testing, he said.

Nationally, South Sudan saw a drop in the rate of infection with HIV/AIDS in 2012, from three percent to 2.6 percent, government statistics released in March show. The country has set itself the goal of having zero new infections and zero AIDS-related deaths by 2017.

HIV in South Sudan Army Twice National Rate