Heavy Fighting Breaks Out in Jonglei State

23 April 2011

Malakal — A separate heavy fighting has erupted this morning in Jonglei state between the South Sudan army, Sudan People’s liberation Army (SPLA), and forces loyal to Lt. General Gabriel Tanginya, military sources have told Sudan Tribune.

The clashes occurred in Kaldak assembly area where the forces of Gabriel Tanginya were assembled by the SPLA command during an ongoing process of reintegration. Gabriel Tanginya earlier agreed with the South Sudan leadership to reintegrate his forces into the South Sudan army.

However, eye witnesses in the area of fighting said the SPLA forces launched the surprise attack against forces of Gabriel Tanginya in the assembly area of Kaldak at around 9:00AM in the morning. It was not clear what prompted the fighting. Sources say forces of Gabriel Tanginya wanted to be reintegrated with their weapons while the SPLA wanted to disarm them first before reintegration.

General Gabriel Tanginya has in the past received weapons from Khartoum, including military vehicles mounted with artilleries. He crossed the North-south border and moved into Jonglei state with his forces in February 2011. He, however, agreed to reintegrate into the SPLA and the process of reintegration was proceeding until the fresh attacks occurred this morning.

Sources who spoke to Sudan Tribune from the area said the fighting was still going on.

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