Officials from the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) have denied the renewal of clashes between Sudan and South Sudan following the recent build-up of troops along the contested border.
In a statement issued late Wednesday evening SAF spokesperson, Sawarmi Khaled, claimed “There is no evidence of South Sudan’s accusations that Sudan is amassing its troops along the border areas and there are no military gun battles between us and them, but what was there was a tribal intervention that sparked the recent armed conflict.”
Sawarmi’s claim of a ‘tribal’ conflict is contrary to reports from South Sudan’s ministry of defence which accuses its neighbour of building up troops along the disputed border areas.
They were also reported to be carrying out a number of military operations as well as shelling in civilian areas.
South Sudan and Sudan signed an agreement in September last year to demilitarise a buffer zone in the contested border region but neither side began implementation of this.
Photo: South Sudan (CIA Factbook)
See also: SAF & SPLA build-up troops at border; Peace negotiations postponed (14 February 2013)