NEW YEAR'S EVE ATTACKS IN AKOT, ATAR AND MARIAL LAU

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 000024 NSC FOR MGAVIN, LETIM DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN ADDIS ABABA ALSO FOR USAU SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREF PGOV PHUM PREL MOPS SU SUBJECT: NEW YEAR'S EVE ATTACKS IN AKOT, ATAR AND MARIAL LAU REF: 09 STATE 118217 KHARTOUM 00000024 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: On December 31, there were three serious attacks in the areas of Atar in Upper Nile State, Akot in Lakes State and Marial Lau in Warrab State. The attacks appear to be unrelated and involve a wide range of actors to include the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) and Lam Akol's SPLM-DC militia group. The UN, Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) and Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) are sending assessment teams to all areas as well as humanitarian assistance to respond to the needs of the communities. The number of casualties is not yet known; however, initial reports in Marial Bal claim 140 dead and 90 wounded. End Summary. -------------- Atar: Shilluk Attack Dinka -------------- ¶2. (SBU) On December 31, approximately 500 armed Shilluk youth from Panyikang County, Upper Nile, allegedly attacked a Dinka settlement in Atar in the early morning hours. The UN reports that the attack resulted in three deaths (two Dinka and one Shilluk) and thousands displaced. The Dinka community has moved west of Atar, while the Shilluk community had moved into Malakal town. An assessment team comprised of UN staff and Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) officials traveled to Atar late on December 31 to review the situation and bring humanitarian supplies. ¶3. (SBU) The motive for the attack is still unclear. Diane de Guzman, UNMIS Senior Civil Affairs Officer told us the attack was in retaliation for an attack by the same Dinka community against the Shilluk one month ago. However, SPLA Director for Military Intelligence, Major General Zakarias told us that in the weeks leading up to the attack, a number of dead bodies were found floating in the river that separates the two communities, first one Dinka body and then a week before the attack, two Shilluk bodies. Zakarias explained that some believe Lam Akol's SPLM-DC (a militia made up predominantly of Shilluk and some Nuer) mobilized the Shilluk community to attack the Dinka in retaliation for the deaths. However, Zakarias told us that there is still no evidence to date about who committed the murders. ¶4. (SBU) UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Lise Grande explained that she was notified of the attack just two hours after it occurred from Minister of Interal Affairs Gier Chuong Aluong. Gier told the UN that the attack was an attempt to assassinate him. Gier had planned to travel to Atar, his hometown, that day, but belatedly postponed his plans. Zakarias added that the SPLA also believed that it could have been an assassination attempt by SPLM-DC disguised as a tribal attack. He explained that the first place attacked in the fighting was the house that Gier had planned to stay during his visit. -------------- - Akot Erupts in Fighting Between SPLA and Dinka -------------- - ¶5. (SBU) The UN was notified of fighting between an SPLA detachment in Akot, Lakes State, and the local Dinka community on December 31. There are conflicting reports on when the fighting actually began. The UN reports that fighting began on December 28, while the SPLA states that it started on December 30. Thus far, the SPLA reports that 19 SPLA soldiers were killed and seven civilians. There are reportedly many more SPLA wounded, who have been transported to Yirol, Rumbek and Juba, some by the UN. Gier visited Akot on January 4; however, the UN has been unable to get an assessment team on the ground but hopes to send a team on January 6. Zakarias told us that the SPLA also plans to send Major General Bol Akot Bol, Director of Special Operations (the unit that oversees civilian disarmament) on January 6 to investigate the events. The SPLA also plans to undertake a joint investigation with the police to review the events that took place and prosecute those responsible. ¶6. (SBU) There are discrepancies between the UN and SPLA versions of events in Akot; however, both report that the clashes began after SPLA soldiers attempted to disarm three Dinka youths. The UN reports that the SPLA fired on one youth, wounding him before shooting him point blank and killing him in front of his comrades. Zakarias reports that another youth refused to disarm and started firing on the SPLA soldiers, who retaliated and killed the youth. This killing however sparked the ensuing clashes ¶7. (SBU) Following the initial incident, members of the Dinka mobilized and attacked the SPLA in two locations on December 30, explained Zakarias. The Dinka community first attacked the SPLA barracks in Akot, killing four and wounding five. Another group KHARTOUM 00000024 002 OF 002 then ambushed the commanding officer's vehicle on the road from Yirol to Rumbek, killing two soldiers and wounding three, including the commanding officer. On December 31, the commanding officer pulled all SPLA in the area back to Akot for security reasons. A group of SPLA south of Akot were attacked near Makur Agarr, where the Dinka paramount chief resided, while pulling back, and retaliated. In retaliation for the SPLA deaths, some SPLA units burned tukuls in the eastern area of Akot. ¶8. (SBU) Civilian disarmament has been underway in Lakes State for six months, raising tensions between the SPLA and Dinka communities. Zakarias reports that over the six months, approximately 36 SPLA soldiers have been killed by the local community and that the local community and state officials have done nothing to investigate or prosecute those responsible. De Guzman told us that the SPLA element in Akot is mostly Nuer and former Southern Sudan Defense Force (SSDF) who were integrated into the SPLA, but are still viewed as an enemy force from Unity State. -------------- Marial Lau - Nuer Attack Dinka -------------- ¶9. (SBU) On January 4, Vice President Riek Machar called UN Resident Coordinator Lise Grande to report that a Nuer group had attacked four different Dinka communities (payams) in Marial Lau on December ¶31. Information is still unconfirmed, as no assessment has been completed in Marial Lau, but initial UN reports claim that 140 civilians were killed and 90 wounded. Additionally, Grande told us that 31,000 cattle were stolen and thousands of people displaced from the area. The UN plans an assessment on January 6. ¶10. (SBU) The cause for the attack by the Nuer perpetrators is still unknown. De Guzman speculated that the attack could be retaliation for a recent Dinka raid into Unity State. The UN reports that some of the Nuer in the attack wore uniforms, and De Guzman pointed out that the area is close to Machar's home area where many of his former troops reside. Zakarias confirmed this and explained that some of Machar's troops were never integrated. However others in the UN report that the attackers were from Mayom, Unity State--where Paulino Matiep is currently residing with his forces--and wore similar uniforms. ¶11. (SBU) Comment: These attacks may portend more serious security concerns in the coming months as elections approach. To date there is no evidence that the involvement of the SPLM-DC and possibly other militia and non-integrated groups is supported by northern elements that wish to destabilize the south during this volatile period. When assessment reports are finalized, we will have a better sense of what drove these recent clashes. WHITEHEAD