29 November 2006 — (Malakal) — The SPLA has evacuated Malakal following an assault on the town by Sudan Armed Forces this morning.  The move came in an apparent effort to end clashes between the SPLA and troops loyal to Gabriel Gatwic, also known as Tanginya.

Sudan Radio Service producer Koang Pal, who has been in Malakal this week, says fighting continued throughout Tuesday night between the SPLA and Gatwic’s forces.  When Sudan Armed Forces came out of their garrison to take control of the town this morning, the SPLA moved out of Malakal town proper and is now in Malakal South.

SPLA Brigadier General Marial Chanuong told Sudan Radio Service on phone from Juba that he believes Mr. Gatwic, who the SPLA alleges to be responsible for the clashes, has been evacuated to Khartoum by the Sudan Armed Forces.

He also alleges that the Sudan Armed Forces attacked the SPLA during their effort to take control of the town this morning.  However, he was unable to provide any details or give casualty figures.

When Sudan Radio Service contacted Al-Sawarmi Khalid Saad, an officer in the information department of the Sudan Armed Forces in Khartoum, we were told that the fighting in Malakal is between the SPLA and Joint Integrated Units, not Sudan Armed Forces.

[Al- Khalid]: ”We are not involved in this incident; it is in the hands of the Government of Southern Sudan. The Sudan Armed Forces are not a party to this fight. We have no troops fighting in that area.”

When asked if Mr. Gatwic had been evacuated to Khartoum, Mr. Saad said Mr. Gatwic is an officer in the Sudan Armed Forces responsible for the Malakal area, but did not give Mr. Gatwic’s current location.  When asked if Mr. Gatwic was fighting the SPLA as a former militia commander or an officer of the Sudan Armed Forces, he simply said that it is up to the Government of Southern Sudan to solve the problem.

Sudan Radio Service has also attempted to reach the United Nations in Malakal, but has so far not been successful.

We will continue to follow this story closely.