Fresh fighting erupts near Sudan oil areas: ex-rebels

JUBA, Sudan (AFP) – Fresh fighting erupted between southern Sudanese forces and Khartoum-backed Arab tribesmen near key oil areas of the country on Friday, former southern rebels said, further denting hopes of an end to north-south hostilities.

Dozens of people have been reported killed since fighting first erupted late last month near the disputed Abyei oil areas between Arab tribesman and ex-rebel south Sudanese army units.


“They have attacked again,” Major General Mai Hoth, deputy chief of the southern former rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Army, told AFP. “They attacked late in the night, and the fighting is still going on.”

Clashes had first erupted in December when tribesman, backed by militiamen, attacked a southern army garrison, the former rebels said, although the tribesmen say they were bombarded first.

AFP