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Government Claims Recapture of Torit

UN Integrated Regional Information Networks
NEWS
October 8, 2002
Posted to the web October 8, 2002
Nairobi
The Sudanese government on Tuesday claimed to have seized the key southern town
of Torit, five weeks after its capture by rebels prompted the government to
suspend peace talks.
Muhammad Ahmad Dirdeiry, charge d'affaires at the Sudanese embassy in Nairobi
told IRIN that government troops had taken control of the town on Tuesday
morning. Khartoum had decided to retake Torit, Eastern Equatoria, to quell
rumours that the government was "unable to control the situation on the south,
and had its back against the wall", he said.
But Samson Kwaje, spokesman for the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Army/
Movement (SPLA/M) denied the government's claims. "They just want to create
some morale for their troops," Kwaje told IRIN. "Let them try [to take Torit].
We are waiting for them."
Local sources told IRIN that it appeared the SPLM/A had made a partial
withdrawal from the town, and that the government offensive was continuing.
Government negotiators pulled out of peace talks in Machakos, Kenya on 2
September, saying the SPLM/A had spoiled the atmosphere of talks by attacking
and capturing Torit the previous day. The talks, brokered by the regional
Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), are due to resume on
Monday, after both parties agreed to a cessation of hostilities for the
duration of negotiations.
In a statement on Friday announcing the resumption of talks, IGAD called on
both the SPLM/A and the government to "exercise maximum self-restraint and
avoid any action which may jeopardise the resumption of talks".
The Sudanese government on Sunday lifted a ban on relief flights of the UN-led
Operation Lifeline Sudan over Eastern Equatoria and Western Equatoria one day
before it was due to expire. However, aid activities were still severely
restricted in Eastern Equatoria as a result of a extended list of government
flight denials, according to humanitarian sources.
Increased restrictions on aid access in Eastern Equatoria at the start of the
month raised concerns among aid workers that the government was planning a
major offensive in the area.

   

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