Sudan, August 11: Gunmen in south Sudan killed 23 people, including police officers, in an ambush on a truck in the key oil producing state of Unity last weekend, a southern army spokesman said on Wednesday.
“Attackers ambushed a truck south of Bentiu,” said Malaak Ayuen Ajok, from the Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Army (SPLA), the former rebel turned official southern military.
“Our forces on the ground say that 23 people were killed, including police officers, as well as those from the prison service and wildlife protection forces,” said Ajok, of the attack on Sunday evening.
“Eight others were wounded, and the situation is now under control,” he added.
The ambush took place in Koch county, southeast of the state capital Bentiu.
Ajok said that while the attackers were not known, there was strong suspicion they could be remnants of forces of militia leader Galwak Gai, a renegade colonel who launched a rebellion after alleging fraud in April’s national elections.
“Galwak’s rebellion is over, but there may be a few of his men left who are using these hit-and-run tactics to cause trouble,” said Ajok.
“The area of the attack does not normally have problems like this.”
In June, the SPLA said Gai had fled into the key oil field of Heglig, into sections controlled by northern military forces.
Meanwhile, Ajok said investigations were ongoing with the passengers of a helicopter captured on Sunday. They are accused of supporting George Athor, a senior southern officer who began a rebellion in April after losing the gubernatorial race in Jonglei state.
“The authorities are investigating those in who were in the helicopter as to exactly what they were doing and who had sent them,” said Ajok.
The south has accused “quarters” in Khartoum of seeking to destabilise the region ahead of its referendum on potential full independence.
Despite disarmament efforts the region is awash with automatic weapons from the war, with southern leaders claiming militia groups are being supplied fresh guns and ammunition.
South Sudan is still recovering from decades of war with the north, during which about two million people were killed in a conflict fuelled by religion, ethnicity, ideology and resources, including oil.
More than 700 people have been killed and over 152,000 people have been forced from their homes in the south since January, according to UN estimates.
The south is expected in January to vote in a referendum set up under a 2005 peace deal, which promised it the chance to choose independence or to remain part of a united Sudan.
—Agencies