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JUBA. — South Sudan accused rebels yesterday of mobilising a feared ethnic militia for new attacks despite a government offer of a truce to end two weeks of conflict in the young state.
A 25 000-strong force of the “White Army” — made up largely of ethnic Nuer youths who dust their bodies with ash — was marching on the town of Bor, recaptured by loyalist forces last Tuesday, an army spokesman said.
“We are prepared to engage them,” Sudan People’s Liberation Army spokesman Philip Aguer said by phone from Juba, 190km south of Bor by road.
Fighting has left at least 1 000 dead and split the east African country barely two years after it won independence from Sudan.
It has also raised fears of an all-out civil war between the main Dinka and Nuer ethnic groups which could destabilise the fragile region.
The White Army rebels, loyal to former vice president Riek Machar, were likely to clash with president Salva Kiir’s troops near Bor within the next day, the army spokesman said.
Machar made no immediate comment on the rebel force or on the government’s offer of a ceasefire on Friday.
Witnesses spoke of panicked civilians fleeing Bor to escape another round of blood-letting.
The White Army are recognised by the ash, prepared from burnt cow dung, with which they cover themselves to ward off insects.
They are armed with machetes and sticks as well as guns.
Defence minister Kuol Manyang Juuk told Reuters politicians in Juba were speaking to the White Army members to tell them that this is not an ethnic-based conflict and to convince them to abandon their march on Bor.
Meanwhile, the UN has expressed concerns about thousands of South Sudanese youths — loyal to rebel leader Machar — marching on the strategic town of Bor.
The UN is organising surveillance flights to ascertain the group’s size, added the spokesman, Joe Contreras. — Reuters/bbc.
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