31 Killed in South Sudan Fighting

Juba, South Sudan

 At least 31 people have died in clashes between South Sudan’s army and rebels, the army has said.

 Philip Aguer, spokesman for southern army, said that 20 victims of the Tuesday’s clashes were Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) soldiers, who were killed when rebels attacked a village in the oil-rich Unity State.

 Aguer said that fighters loyal to Peter Gadet a former SPLA senior official who rebelled away from the army this month overran a village in Mayom Country, burning it to the ground before the SPLA drove them away.

 The Misseriya, an Arab-nomad tribe from the north have claimed responsibility of the attack.

 Senior Misseriya official Ismail Hamadein said that they attacked an SPLA base in Unity state to reclaim 1700 cows the SPLA had stolen from them. Hamadein said that eleven of his tribesmen died and 22 injured during the clashes, denying having ties with Gadet whom the SPLA accuse of carrying out the attack jointly with the tribesmen.

 Leaders in the south have accused the north of trying to destabilise the south and hold on influence of its oil resources by arming rebel movements plying the region.

 Unity state officials say that they have ample evidence that militias fighting in the region are being encouraged and sponsored by elements in the Khartoum government. In response to the latest violence, the Unity authorities have expelled northern Sudanese staff working in the region’s oil fields as a way to highlight the risk from rising tension.

 Southern Sudan awaits full legitimisation as an independent state in July, following an overwhelming vote in favour of separation from the north in the January referendum. The referendum was the final phase of implementation of the 2005 peace accord that ended the two-decade north-south conflict, which claimed an estimated 2 million lives.

 Outstanding issues like possible border demarcation and sharing of national resources and debt have greatly hampered efforts towards realising Africa’s youngest state, with series of talks on the settlement failing.

 Experts warn further escalation of the violence in South Sudan could destabilise the whole region. The UN says that 800 people have died so far this year in violence in the south, resulting from tribal conflicts and clashes between state army and rebel movements in the region.

Kampala, Uganda

Opposition Leader Arrested Again

The Ugandan security forces have arrested opposition leader Kizza Besigye during his protest against rising cost of living facing the country.

 Dr.Besigye was arrested on Thursday morning and bundled into a police van while on his way to work during his twice-weekly stage of the “Walk to Work” protest.  He drove half way and left his car at the edge of the capital, Kampala, where he expected to walk the rest of the journey to work.

 Police also fired teargas to disperse hundred of his supporters who were hurling stones at them. One protester was arrested, beaten up with batons for throwing stones and later loaded into the back of the police pick up truck.

 His arrest follows a declaration by President Yoweri Museveni that the Thursday’s “Walk to Work” protest would be stopped. Museveni was speaking during launching of a motorcycle taxis cooperative in the capital.

 Secretary General of Besigye’s Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Alice Alaso said he was initially held at the Wandegeya police station and later transferred to Nabweru court. The opposition  vowed to continue walking until the government finds solution to fuel price that has risen by 30 per cent, affecting price other commodities.

 Dr. Besigye was last week arrested and charged with inciting violence twice in similar occasion in the campaign that started in the capital and spread out to several other towns. He was last week shot and wounded on the arm in a protest where demonstrators engaged police and army in running battles.

 Four people have died due to suppression of the protest that started in April 11, tactics which have been largely condemned by the international community and rights groups. Other seven opposition leaders remain in prison after being denied bail following arrest on same allegations.

 Dr. Besigye, former Museveni’s personal doctor has contested against the former Guerilla leader in three unsuccessful presidential elections. In this year’s February polls Dr. Besigye gained 26 per cent against Museveni’s 68, a defeat which was largely blamed on divisions in the opposition.