VZCZCXRO1820
OO RUEHROV RUEHTRO
DE RUEHKH #0024/01 0061222
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 061222Z JAN 10 ZDK GARBLED IN TRANSMISSION
FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4983
INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/CJTF HOA

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 000024 
 
NSC FOR MGAVIN, LETIM 
DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN 
ADDIS ABABA ALSO FOR USAU 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREF PGOV PHUM PREL MOPS SU
SUBJECT:  NEW YEAR'S EVE ATTACKS IN AKOT, ATAR AND MARIAL LAU 
 
REF: 09 STATE 118217 
 
KHARTOUM 00000024  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary:  On December 31, there were three serious attacks 
in the areas of Atar in Upper Nile State, Akot in Lakes State and 
Marial Lau in Warrab State.  The attacks appear to be unrelated and 
involve a wide range of actors to include the Sudan People's 
Liberation Army (SPLA) and Lam Akol's SPLM-DC militia group.  The 
UN, Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) and Sudan People's 
Liberation Army (SPLA) are sending assessment teams to all areas as 
well as humanitarian assistance to respond to the needs of the 
communities.  The number of casualties is not yet known; however, 
initial reports in Marial Bal claim 140 dead and 90 wounded.  End 
Summary. 
 
-------------------------- 
Atar: Shilluk Attack Dinka 
-------------------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) On December 31, approximately 500 armed Shilluk youth from 
Panyikang County, Upper Nile, allegedly attacked a Dinka settlement 
in Atar in the early morning hours.  The UN reports that the attack 
resulted in three deaths (two Dinka and one Shilluk) and thousands 
displaced.  The Dinka community has moved west of Atar, while the 
Shilluk community had moved into Malakal town.  An assessment team 
comprised of UN staff and Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) 
officials traveled to Atar late on December 31 to review the 
situation and bring humanitarian supplies. 
 
¶3. (SBU) The motive for the attack is still unclear.  Diane de 
Guzman, UNMIS Senior Civil Affairs Officer told us the attack was in 
retaliation for an attack by the same Dinka community against the 
Shilluk one month ago.  However, SPLA Director for Military 
Intelligence, Major General Zakarias told us that in the weeks 
leading up to the attack, a number of dead bodies were found 
floating in the river that separates the two communities, first one 
Dinka body and then a week before the attack, two Shilluk bodies. 
Zakarias explained that some believe Lam Akol's SPLM-DC (a militia 
made up predominantly of Shilluk and some Nuer) mobilized the 
Shilluk community to attack the Dinka in retaliation for the deaths. 
 However, Zakarias told us that there is still no evidence to date 
about who committed the murders. 
 
¶4. (SBU) UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Lise Grande 
explained that she was notified of the attack just two hours after 
it occurred from Minister of Interal Affairs Gier Chuong Aluong. 
Gier told the UN that the attack was an attempt to assassinate him. 
Gier had planned to travel to Atar, his hometown, that day, but 
belatedly postponed his plans.  Zakarias added that the SPLA also 
believed that it could have been an assassination attempt by SPLM-DC 
disguised as a tribal attack.  He explained that the first place 
attacked in the fighting was the house that Gier had planned to stay 
during his visit. 
 
--------------------------------------------- - 
Akot Erupts in Fighting Between SPLA and Dinka 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
¶5. (SBU) The UN was notified of fighting between an SPLA detachment 
in Akot, Lakes State, and the local Dinka community on December 31. 
There are conflicting reports on when the fighting actually began. 
The UN reports that fighting began on December 28, while the SPLA 
states that it started on December 30.  Thus far, the SPLA reports 
that 19 SPLA soldiers were killed and seven civilians.  There are 
reportedly many more SPLA wounded, who have been transported to 
Yirol, Rumbek and Juba, some by the UN.    Gier visited Akot on 
January 4; however, the UN has been unable to get an assessment team 
on the ground but hopes to send a team on January 6.  Zakarias told 
us that the SPLA also plans to send Major General Bol Akot Bol, 
Director of Special Operations (the unit that oversees civilian 
disarmament) on January 6 to investigate the events.  The SPLA also 
plans to undertake a joint investigation with the police to review 
the events that took place and prosecute those responsible. 
 
¶6. (SBU) There are discrepancies between the UN and SPLA versions of 
events in Akot; however, both report that the clashes began after 
SPLA soldiers attempted to disarm three Dinka youths.  The UN 
reports that the SPLA fired on one youth, wounding him before 
shooting him point blank and killing him in front of his comrades. 
Zakarias reports that another youth refused to disarm and started 
firing on the SPLA soldiers, who retaliated and killed the youth. 
This killing however sparked the ensuing clashes 
 
¶7. (SBU) Following the initial incident, members of the Dinka 
mobilized and attacked the SPLA in two locations on December 30, 
explained Zakarias.  The Dinka community first attacked the SPLA 
barracks in Akot, killing four and wounding five.  Another group 
 
KHARTOUM 00000024  002 OF 002 
 
 
then ambushed the commanding officer's vehicle on the road from 
Yirol to Rumbek, killing two soldiers and wounding three, including 
the commanding officer.  On December 31, the commanding officer 
pulled all SPLA in the area back to Akot for security reasons.  A 
group of SPLA south of Akot were attacked near Makur Agarr, where 
the Dinka paramount chief resided, while pulling back, and 
retaliated.  In retaliation for the SPLA deaths, some SPLA units 
burned tukuls in the eastern area of Akot. 
 
¶8. (SBU) Civilian disarmament has been underway in Lakes State for 
six months, raising tensions between the SPLA and Dinka communities. 
 Zakarias reports that over the six months, approximately 36 SPLA 
soldiers have been killed by the local community and that the local 
community and state officials have done nothing to investigate or 
prosecute those responsible.  De Guzman told us that the SPLA 
element in Akot is mostly Nuer and former Southern Sudan Defense 
Force (SSDF) who were integrated into the SPLA, but are still viewed 
as an enemy force from Unity State. 
 
------------------------------ 
Marial Lau - Nuer Attack Dinka 
------------------------------ 
 
¶9. (SBU) On January 4, Vice President Riek Machar called UN Resident 
Coordinator Lise Grande to report that a Nuer group had attacked 
four different Dinka communities (payams) in Marial Lau on December 
¶31.  Information is still unconfirmed, as no assessment has been 
completed in Marial Lau, but initial UN reports claim that 140 
civilians were killed and 90 wounded.  Additionally, Grande told us 
that 31,000 cattle were stolen and thousands of people displaced 
from the area.  The UN plans an assessment on January 6. 
 
¶10. (SBU) The cause for the attack by the Nuer perpetrators is still 
unknown.  De Guzman speculated that the attack could be retaliation 
for a recent Dinka raid into Unity State.  The UN reports that some 
of the Nuer in the attack wore uniforms, and De Guzman pointed out 
that the area is close to Machar's home area where many of his 
former troops reside.  Zakarias confirmed this and explained that 
some of Machar's troops were never integrated.  However others in 
the UN report that the attackers were from Mayom, Unity State--where 
Paulino Matiep is currently residing with his forces--and wore 
similar uniforms. 
 
¶11. (SBU) Comment:  These attacks may portend more serious security 
concerns in the coming months as elections approach.  To date there 
is no evidence that the involvement of the SPLM-DC and possibly 
other militia and non-integrated groups is supported by northern 
elements that wish to destabilize the south during this volatile 
period.  When assessment reports are finalized, we will have a 
better sense of what drove these recent clashes. 
 
WHITEHEAD