SPLM-N Rift: Agar, al-Hilu fighters clash again in Blue Nile
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Elisabeth Janaina
Aug 16, 2017, 4:35:17 AM8/16/17
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SPLM-N Rift: Agar, al-Hilu fighters clash again in Blue Nile
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August 15, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - A new round of fighting has erupted
between the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) factions
in the Blue Nile as both sides exchanged accusations concerning
responsibility for the bloody clashes.
JPEG - 12.9 kb
Malik Agar (File photo/ Reuters)
The SPLM-N is now divided into two factions: one in the Nuba Mountains
led by Abdel Aziz al-Hilu and the other in the White Nile State led by
Malik Agar. The rift emerged several months ago over the right of
self-determination and other issues.
As a result of the rift between Agar and al-Hilu, the Blue Nile state
witnessed last June tribal clashes between the Angsana of Malik Agar
and the Uduk, an ethnic group supporting self-determination.
Reliable sources told Sudan Tribune that violent clashes have renewed
earlier this week after force belonging to SPLMN-Agar crossed into an
area controlled by fighters loyal to al-Hilu.
According to the sources, a number of fighters from both sides have
been killed and others injured in the clashes, saying a significant
number of residents have been displaced from Abu Nagro and Yabos
areas.
The same sources said SPLMN-Agar forces attacked al-Hilu’s fighters
led by Gen. Josef Tika in Yabos, saying 43 fighters from the attackers
have been killed.
It added that SPLMN-al-Hilu forces seized 90 Kalashnikov rifles, 9
Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPG 7) and 9 machine guns.
According to the sources, the commander of SPLMN-Agar in Blue Nile
Gen. Ahmed al-Umda dispatched additional reinforcements to the area on
14 August, saying however 7 more SPLMN-Agar fighters were killed in
clashes with Tika’s forces in Ghafa area.
In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune, SPLMN-al-Hilu spokesperson
in the Blue Nile Guma’a al-Hadi said Agar’s forces on Sunday attacked
a village near Greater Yabos area.
He pointed the attackers burnt the homes of residents killing 4 of
them, describing the incidents as “systematic tribal action”.
According to al-Hadi, their fighters chased the attackers until they
resorted to the refugee camps, saying they left behind 20 dead and 30
injured.
For his part, Agar has accused al-Hilu of inciting the Christian Uduk
ethnicity who had previously asked the Movement’s leadership to call
for self-determination to join South Sudan.
He pointed they had convinced the Uduk to renege on their demand for
self-determination and instead call for special arrangements to
preserve their cultural rights and equal citizenship within the Blue
Nile and a unified Sudan.
In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune, Agar accused al-Hilu of
dividing the three sectors which comprise the Movement including the
Blue Nile, Nuba Mountain and the Northern sector.
He held al-Hilu responsible for the internal war within the Movement,
saying it was al-Hilu who promoted Joseph Tika to the rank of
Lieutenant general and appointed him as his deputy.
Agar added the Khartoum regime is the only beneficiary from the
divisions within the SPLM-N, saying the rift would weaken the Movement
and the marginalized minorities in the Two Areas.
He said the bloody clashes are the natural result of al-Hilu’s attempt
to impose a new leadership on the people of the Blue Nile, accusing
the latter of seeking to falsify the will of the people of the Two
Areas.
Agar called on both sides engaged in the internal fighting in the Blue
Nile to form a neutral committee to investigate the clashes and
develop joint agenda for the future.
The SPLMN-Agar leader reiterated his support for the right of
self-government and the unity of Sudan on new bases, saying he
wouldn’t mind taking part in a democratic discussion on the right of
self-determination for the people of the Two Areas but not to impose
that option by a coup.
The Sudanese army has been fighting the SPLM-N in the South Kordofan
and Blue Nile states, also known as the Two Areas since 2011.
(ST)
Article
Comments (2)
email Email
print Print
pdfSave
separation
increase
decrease
separation
separation
August 15, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - A new round of fighting has erupted
between the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) factions
in the Blue Nile as both sides exchanged accusations concerning
responsibility for the bloody clashes.
JPEG - 12.9 kb
Malik Agar (File photo/ Reuters)
The SPLM-N is now divided into two factions: one in the Nuba Mountains
led by Abdel Aziz al-Hilu and the other in the White Nile State led by
Malik Agar. The rift emerged several months ago over the right of
self-determination and other issues.
As a result of the rift between Agar and al-Hilu, the Blue Nile state
witnessed last June tribal clashes between the Angsana of Malik Agar
and the Uduk, an ethnic group supporting self-determination.
Reliable sources told Sudan Tribune that violent clashes have renewed
earlier this week after force belonging to SPLMN-Agar crossed into an
area controlled by fighters loyal to al-Hilu.
According to the sources, a number of fighters from both sides have
been killed and others injured in the clashes, saying a significant
number of residents have been displaced from Abu Nagro and Yabos
areas.
The same sources said SPLMN-Agar forces attacked al-Hilu’s fighters
led by Gen. Josef Tika in Yabos, saying 43 fighters from the attackers
have been killed.
It added that SPLMN-al-Hilu forces seized 90 Kalashnikov rifles, 9
Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPG 7) and 9 machine guns.
According to the sources, the commander of SPLMN-Agar in Blue Nile
Gen. Ahmed al-Umda dispatched additional reinforcements to the area on
14 August, saying however 7 more SPLMN-Agar fighters were killed in
clashes with Tika’s forces in Ghafa area.
In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune, SPLMN-al-Hilu spokesperson
in the Blue Nile Guma’a al-Hadi said Agar’s forces on Sunday attacked
a village near Greater Yabos area.
He pointed the attackers burnt the homes of residents killing 4 of
them, describing the incidents as “systematic tribal action”.
According to al-Hadi, their fighters chased the attackers until they
resorted to the refugee camps, saying they left behind 20 dead and 30
injured.
For his part, Agar has accused al-Hilu of inciting the Christian Uduk
ethnicity who had previously asked the Movement’s leadership to call
for self-determination to join South Sudan.
He pointed they had convinced the Uduk to renege on their demand for
self-determination and instead call for special arrangements to
preserve their cultural rights and equal citizenship within the Blue
Nile and a unified Sudan.
In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune, Agar accused al-Hilu of
dividing the three sectors which comprise the Movement including the
Blue Nile, Nuba Mountain and the Northern sector.
He held al-Hilu responsible for the internal war within the Movement,
saying it was al-Hilu who promoted Joseph Tika to the rank of
Lieutenant general and appointed him as his deputy.
Agar added the Khartoum regime is the only beneficiary from the
divisions within the SPLM-N, saying the rift would weaken the Movement
and the marginalized minorities in the Two Areas.
He said the bloody clashes are the natural result of al-Hilu’s attempt
to impose a new leadership on the people of the Blue Nile, accusing
the latter of seeking to falsify the will of the people of the Two
Areas.
Agar called on both sides engaged in the internal fighting in the Blue
Nile to form a neutral committee to investigate the clashes and
develop joint agenda for the future.
The SPLMN-Agar leader reiterated his support for the right of
self-government and the unity of Sudan on new bases, saying he
wouldn’t mind taking part in a democratic discussion on the right of
self-determination for the people of the Two Areas but not to impose
that option by a coup.
The Sudanese army has been fighting the SPLM-N in the South Kordofan
and Blue Nile states, also known as the Two Areas since 2011.
(ST)
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