Fighting between the government forces of President Salva Kiir and
troops loyal to the former vice president, Riek Machar, has displaced more than
400,000 people since mid-December, with the front lines constantly
shifting.
Nearly 10,000 people have been killed in the latest fighting,
according to an estimate by the International Crisis Group analyst.
President Yoweri Museveni of neighboring Uganda, who supports
Kiir's government, has entered the fray, sending helicopters and fighter jets.
Ugandan officials deny their forces are involved in active combat, but a
spokesman for the rebels, former South Sudan Brig. Gen. Lul Ruai Kong, said
Ugandans are bombing rebel positions.
Another pro-rebel official, Gideon Gatpan Thaor, said fighters
described being hit with a smoky weapon that burns, possibly white
phosphorous.
Ugandan journalist Milton Allimadi questioned the interference by
Pres. Museveni. “Why is general Museveni allowed to deploy to South Sudan in a
domestic conflict between President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar,
just weeks after his terror-army which committed war crimes was defeated in
Congo?“ he asked.
Syracuse Prof. Horace Campbell weighed in: “In every society there
are political struggles. However, when there are large reserves of petroleum and
other resources these political struggles take on added dimensions and become
regionalized and internationalized.”
“The
ongoing talks in Addis Ababa must be the basis for a credible ceasefire and the
disarming of the factions,” continued Campbell, writing in the online newsletter
Pambazuka. “Peace activists internationally must expose the duplicity of foreign
forces that are covertly supporting this militarized disruption of the newest
African state.” w/pix of a boat survivor
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