More Sudan Thoughts from Lawrence Peter

Commander Lawrence T. Peter's (ret.) previous guest blogs describing his adventures as an international observer in Sudan have sparked a reader question or two in light of renewed hostilities there and the apparent collapse of a peace accord. As one reader wrote:

You might want to check this item on resumed hostilities.

Best regards,
Bill Horn

5 Sep 02
Vb, VA

Thanks, Bill,

Have been following this development with interest. I guess it is too glib a comment to say that after I left, things once again started getting out of hand...

This is a nice, quick graphic of the region (PDF format). You will be able to quickly locate the towns identified below. By way of comparison, I was based in El Obied and another part of the JMC was based out of Kadugli (look in the center of Sudan). There is also a new mission designated, but on hold, to investigate 'war atrocities' in Southern Sudan. It is to have a base in Rembeck (6-50N / 29-40E), a considerable distance even from Juba.

Torit (4-25N / 32-40E) is way down south, about 25 miles North of the border with Uganda. The capture of Torit demonstrates increasing SPLA strength in the area and is about half the distance from Kapoeta (4-50N / 33-40E, town the SPLA recaptured in late Spring) to Juba (4-55N / 31-35E). Juba is considered to be a "strategic" (government-held) town (which I have flown into) and contains THE major airfield (and major Army base) for all of southern Sudan. Juba is located along the White Nile. This victory is a sign of increasing SPLA strength and further movement westward. Of course, these areas have changed hands previously, but it has been some time: the SPLA lost Torit to the government forces in 1992.

The borders, while legally defined, are rather ambigious on a practical basis to the tribes which live in the area. There is alos a wash-over of a particularly violent and heinous Ugandan rebel group the LRA - Lord's Resistance Army. The LRA (which wants to repalce the Ugandan government with a government based upon the Ten Commandments) has made forays into Sudan pursueing its enemies, but as far as I know, does not fight particularly on either the Government of Sudan Army or the SPLA side in the Sudanese conflict.

All the best,
Lawrence