SPLA claims victory in oil region

The Sudanese army has denied claims by the rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) that it had destroyed a large government convoy, killing 48 soldiers. The SPLA said in a statement on 6 July that it had ambushed the convoy near Wang Kai (9.02N 29.29E) in the oil-producing western Nuer region, and destroyed it after three days of fighting.

General Muhammad Bashir Sulayman was quoted by AFP as saying on 8 July that the rebel attack had been repulsed by government troops and militia loyal to Khartoum. “Western Nuer region is fully stable, particularly Wang Kai area, which the rebels claim to have attacked,” he said. He added that government soldiers were providing “total security” to the road linking Wang Kai, Tamur, Rubkona and Rangat.

Wang Kai is about 50 km southwest of the government-held town and oil production centre of Bentiu. The SPLM/A said in its statement that the Sudanese government was “conniving” with international oil companies to “vandalise our natural resources”, while in the process “lengthening the war and the suffering of our people”.