No remark from the government of Ethiopia
Borkena
Toronto – South Sudanese forces reportedly made incursions into the Gambella region of Ethiopia. Local Ethiopian Media outlets and those based outside of the country , including Ethiopian Media Service (EMS), are reporting the South Sudanese forces are in control of up to 30 kilometers deep in the Ethiopian territory.
According to the sources, the South Sudanese forces have been in control of Lare district of the Gambella region since Wednesday. Head of the district administration, whose name is unspecified, was reportedly wounded seriously and taken to hospital.
Also, local sources reported that dozens of Gameballa region anti-riot police forces have sustained injury. Unspecified if the wound is life threatening
The sources also reported that “Ethiopian flag is lowered in the controlled area, and South Sudanese flag is raised.”
Federal government police force deployed in the area reportedly retreated in the face of what appeared to be a military action from a mechanized force from South Sudan.
The area is said to be tense following the reported withdrawal of Federal police force from the area but there are no reports of casualties. The Defense Force was not in the area, it was said.
EMS stated that the forces who controlled the area easily seem to be forces loyal to Reick Machar, Salva Kirr’s opponent. The conflict between the two forces reignited recently.
The Ethiopian government has not yet remarked about the reported development in the Gambella region of Ethiopia. Multiples of bilateral agreements including for infrastructure developments have been reached between Ethiopia and South Sudan over the past few years.
However, there had been recurring cross border security incidents in the region and lootings of cattle. There were joint border administrator’s meetings.
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I refuse to believe this story as it is told in this article. I don’t even wanna start to imagine any South Sudanese person would even think to do such provocative land grabbing on the country that played a critical role in the creation of South Sudan itself. I remember a decade or so ago when one of these bigots and connivers among up publish a story about that demonic Mengistu had moved to Juba to organize an invading army so he could come back and rule the old country again. South Sudanese government officials’ response was swift and telling. The leader of that country was unambiguous in denying that. He told us that he did not see the crucial military and supply aid his rebel army received during the liberation struggle as a handout from governments that came and gone but from the sympathetic people Ethiopia. He assured us all that the people of South Sudan will never do anything to harm Ethiopia. So it is very hard for me to believe this story.
South Sudan vice president Reick Machar is Nuer, who is supported by the Nuer youth militia called White Army against the oppression of Dinka president Salva Kir. They don’t have mechanised vehicles and it doesn’t make sense Nuer to attack Nuer on the other side of the border.
So, I asked some people in Lare and was told that there were clashes at a bridge near the border, not in Lare itself. After the defeat of South Sudan defence forces in Nasir Salva Kir asked Uganda defense forces to join and destroy Nuer militia, part of whom run and hide in Gambela.
Apparently they were chased into Ethiopia where the clashes happened.
Now I wonder how reliable is EMS as media and who it serves. Obviously, Ethiopian government needs to work with Salva Kir on different issues, but blaming Nuer/Machar seems another ethnopolitical game.