The south Sudanese army today refuted Khartoum accusations of aiding Darfur insurgents, days after Sudanese troops clashed with rebels near the border and one bomb falling in the south territory injuring seven.
On Friday, SAF military clashed with rebels of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) near Al-Meirem, a sector bordering North Bahr al-Ghazal and South Kordofan.Talking to SCR News, SPLA spokesperson Colonel Phillip Aguer Panyang dismissed SAF’s allegations that the SPLA was helping Darfur rebel groups and providing sanctuary to their leaders.
Mr. Aguer said SAF’s allegations flagged some nervousness in the North about the referendum preparations.
He added that the SPLA was solely committed to maintaining peace between South and North Sudan.
Mr. Aguer said the SPLA was committed to the ceasefire it signed five years ago and would not be dragged back to war.
He added that if anyone had any grievance from the weekend bombing was south Sudan.
Earlier, JEM spokesman Ahmed Hussein Adam denied that his organization was receiving any military aid from the SPLA.
SAF apologized for the bomb that fell in Northern Bahr el Ghazal, saying it was a misplaced air attack on JEM positions.