Sudanese villagers caught in crossfire

Rebels and government both claim victories

By East Africa correspondent Cathy Jenkins

In the town of Mankien in Sudan's Western Upper Nile province, the bombs have left behind small craters.

They are dotted around the airstrip, one next to a partially-destroyed thatched home.

The rebels of the Sudanese People's Liberation Army (SPLA) accuse the government of carrying out bombing raids in the area, saying a school was hit by bombs.

There has been no independent confirmation of this incident, but earlier this month the US State Department condemned what it said was an intensification of aerial bombardments of civilian targets in southern Sudan.

No-one was killed in the attack which took place in January, but the upheaval for the people has been immense.

Terror

When the government Antonovs flew over, the population of the town ran in terror into the bush.

They had no warning that an attack was pending, nor did they know when Mankien would be targetted again.

The result is that they are living in a state of constant uncertainty.

Although they are preparing for the planting season, which should begin when the rains come in a few weeks time, they do not know when their lives will be disrupted again, or whether they will still be in Mankien when their harvest is ready.

Short-lived peace

Mankien was just beginning to experience some relative calm when the bombing happened.

Seven months ago the area was in turbulence as the local military commander, Peter Gadet, took Mankien from under the wing of the government back to the rebel side.

The tactic of aligning oneself with the government and then rejoining the rebels - effectively swapping sides - has been used by several of the southern rebel commanders when they have fought among themselves.

Peter Gadet has now joined his forces to those of the SPLA.

The local officials in Mankien remain the same, but have swapped their allegiance along with their military commander.

And the people of Mankien say they have to be prepared to be targetted by the Government planes at any time.

Counter-claims

The Sudanese Government now says that it has repulsed attacks by rebels after five days of fighting in the east of the country.

The fighting is reported to have broken out on Saturday 400km east of Khartoum, near the Eritrean border.

But an SPLA spokesman contradicted the government statement, saying that rebels had regained two border positions.