Southern Sudan Minister: Jonglei Clash Death Toll At Least 211

Officials Accuse Sudan of Arming Rebel Leader

The death toll in last week’s fighting in the Jonglei state of Southern Sudan has risen again, with officials now saying at least 211 people were killed in the clashes over the course of two days.

The fighting involved a former Southern Sudan army commander, George Athor, creating a rebel army and conquering the town of Fangak, as well as attacking the nearby town of Dor. The Southern military eventually reconquered the towns, but the fighting left massive numbers of civilians dead.

Tensions over the massive death toll prompted Pagan Amum, a top official in the southern ruling party, to accuse the Sudanese government of backing Athor, saying “his guns are coming from Khartoum.”

Northern officials denied the accusation, insisting Athor, a long-time southern faction member, had no ties to the northern government and was entirely a problem for the newly created state of Southern Sudan.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.