Sudan rebels on the move again

Sudan rebels on the move again

By Norm Dixon

After a brief lull, rebels opposed to the Arab-chauvinist regime in Khartoum have resumed their offensive in the south of Sudan.

In early March, Sudan Peoples Liberation Army fighters liberated Kaya, a large town 24 kilometres north of the Ugandan border, moved westward to capture Bazi and then eastwards to lay siege to Yei, less than 160 kilometres south of Juba, the largest town in southern Sudan.

The victories of anti-Mobutu rebels in Zaire have denied the Sudanese government the use of Zairean territory to attack the SPLA from the rear.

On March 16-17, the SPLA captured Yei and moved on to take Kulipapa, 56 kilometres south-west of Juba.

Government forces suffered heavy casualties in the battle for Yei. More than 200 troops were killed and 1000 captured, along with 17 tanks and heavy artillery. Seven thousand troops fled. The government tried to parachute supplies to its besieged soldiers but most landed in SPLA hands.

To the west of Juba, in late March the SPLA defeated a government brigade at Jambo, capturing some 30 abandoned tanks. Two rebel columns are now approaching Juba, one from the west and another from the south.

Meanwhile, the National Democratic Alliance — a group of opposition parties from north Sudan now allied to the SPLA — has captured the garrison towns of Kotanayep and Gadamei, 400 kilometres east of Khartoum.

From GLW issue 271