EX-SUDAN ARMED FORCES SOLDIERS PROTEST IN JUBA

C O N F I D E N T I A L KHARTOUM 000330 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR AF A/S FRAZER AND AF/SE NATSIOS, NSC FOR PITTMAN AND SHORTLEY E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/02/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV ASEC SU SUBJECT: EX-SUDAN ARMED FORCES SOLDIERS PROTEST IN JUBA OVER PAY REF: KHARTOUM 2847 Classified By: DCM R. Powers, Reason: Section 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) A group of 150-200 ex-soldiers from the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) marched across central Juba March 1 before staging a brief demonstration in front of the Juba headquarters of the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS). The decommissioned soldiers, who fought for the north during Sudan's long civil war, complained that they have not been paid properly. Initial reports indicated no violence in the demonstration, though the former soldiers threatened to beat at least one passerby. The group also directed traffic off Juba's main street, including at least one Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) vehicle. Several of the protesters were armed, according to United Nations security sources. One report from UNMIS holds that a SAF officer was briefly held hostage during the protest. Today's protest was the first known demonstration by ex-SAF forces. In December 2006, however, units from an SPLA battalion attached to the Joint Integrated Units marched into central Juba firing weapons, threatened to occupy the parliament building, and shut down two radio stations over back-pay (reftel). HUME