South Sudan says it will retaliate against Sudan for what it considers acts of war from its northern neighbor. Sudanese warplanes have continued dropping bombs on southern territory days after South Sudanese troops withdrew from an oil town at the center of recent clashes. At least three people have been killed in the air attacks, including a young boy.
During a visit to China on Tuesday, South Sudanese President Salva Kiir said Sudan's recent actions amount to a declaration of war against the south.
His comments followed a series of bomb attacks in South Sudan's Unity State blamed on Sudanese armed forces.
“What happens in the next few days is very crucial on whether the two countries can avert the possibility of an outbreak of a full-blown conflict, or if they actually lead themselves headlong into a situation of all-out war,” said South Sudan's Deputy Defense Minister Majak D'Agoot from the state capital Bentiu.
South Sudan's military, the SPLA, has been sending reinforcements to the border with Sudan. Military officials say they are preparing defensive positions to respond to any further provocation from Khartoum.
Tensions have remained high between the two sides after the SPLA withdrew from the town of Heglig, which they occupied for about 10 days earlier this month.
Juba claims they left the area in response to international pressure, while Khartoum says it retook control by force.
Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir visited Heglig Monday to demonstrate that his forces were in control of the territory. He told soldiers there that there will be no further talks with Juba and that the south only understands the language of “guns and ammunition.”
D'Agoot said he is not convinced by Sudan's war rhetoric.
“I think Bashir is bluffing. He will ultimately come back to the table because he doesn't have many choices at hand; first of all, his army is in terrible shape, they have not withstood our pressure since the outbreak of this latest wave of hostilities,” said D'Agoot.
The United Nations refugee agency [UNHCR] says recent fighting near the border has displaced some 35,000 people in parts of Sudan's South Kordofan province. Pro-southern rebels there have been fighting the Sudanese military since last June.
UNHCR says escalating hostilities are threatening the safety of refugees who fled to Unity State because of the violence and lack of food.
The United States, China and other world powers have called on Sudan and South Sudan to stop fighting and resume talks.
TIMELINE
Newer articles:
- China's President welcomes South Sudan President - Christian Science Monitor - 24/04/2012 20:31
- WRAPUP 1-South Sudan says Sudan air strikes amount to war - Chicago Tribune - 24/04/2012 20:13
- South Sudan Says Sudan Strikes Again - New York Times - 24/04/2012 19:24
- White House condemns Sudan air strikes in South Sudan - Reuters - 24/04/2012 19:01
- White House condemns Sudan air strikes in South Sudan - MSN Money - 24/04/2012 18:00
Older news items
- Official: Sudan planes drop bombs on South Sudan - WTVQ - 24/04/2012 16:17
- Sudan: 35000 Newly Displaced Near Sudan-South Sudan Border - AllAfrica.com - 24/04/2012 15:03
- Sudan and South Sudan must step back from war - Reuters AlertNet - 24/04/2012 14:44
- South Sudan president: Sudan has 'declared war' - Pioneer Press - 24/04/2012 14:42
- Official: Sudan planes drop 8 bombs on South Sudan - NECN - 24/04/2012 14:14
Latest news items (all categories):
- UAE company agreed to loan $13B to South Sudan in exchange for oil - 27/04/2024 16:44
- South Sudan auditor flags spending of IMF funds - 27/04/2024 16:41
- UN Aid Trucks Held up at South Sudan Border - 27/04/2024 16:37
- South Sudanese comedians find laughs in painful past - 27/04/2024 16:34
- The DRC had the world's biggest military spend increase last year – and South Sudan was second - 27/04/2024 16:29
See also (all categories):
Random articles (all categories):
- Nearly 40 people, mostly women and children, killed in Sudan’s Darfur - 29/08/2023 03:01
- Uganda beat South Sudan 1-0 in U-23 AFCON qualifier - 14/11/2018 16:20
- South Sudan: Is the Peace Deal in South Sudan Holding? - 12/05/2019 01:57
- South Sudan restarts oil production - Aljazeera.com - 06/04/2013 12:03
- Gabon thrash hapless South Sudan - 12/10/2018 11:45
Popular articles:
- Who is the darkest person in the world, according to Guinness World Record? - 25/10/2022 02:34 - Read 31679 times
- No oil in troubled waters - 25/03/2014 15:02 - Read 21860 times
- School exam results in South Sudan show decline - 01/04/2012 17:58 - Read 20741 times
- NDSU student from South Sudan receives scholarship - In-Forum - 29/09/2012 01:44 - Read 17293 times
- With prisons full, South Sudan to introduce mobile courts to clear backlog of cases - 11/10/2012 11:29 - Read 14214 times