South Sudan’s army spokesman, Philip Aguer Panyang, denied yesterday the involvement of Darfur rebel group, the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), in an attack on South Sudan’s Yida refugee camp and claimed that authorities have arrested of a number of people said to be responsible.

The attack happened on Saturday when armed gunmen attempted to raid the camp which houses tens of thousands of refugees from the Nuba Mountains amidst ongoing civil conflict there. 

Reports from the scene initially claimed that JEM were behind the attack which resulted in at least one death and the injury of others after being resisted by the South Sudanese police force (SSPS).

However, Aguer denied JEM’s involvement, adding that the JEM forces have no presence within the borders of South Sudan.

A JEM spokesman likewise had already distanced the rebel movement from the event, admitting only that the militant leader involved, Nimeiri Teiya, had last year applied to join JEM but had been rejected on the basis that he had "previously been banished from a revolutionary organisation.”  

The attacks also resulted in the widespread looting and destruction to refugees’ and camp property, sparking panic amongst a number of residents who took refuge outside of the UNHCR building.

UNHCR’s spokesman, Tim Irwin, confirmed in a press statement that there was heavy gunfire at the camp, prompting hundreds of people, including children and women, to flee.  While claiming that the refugees are now safe, he expressed concerns over the presence of armed elements continuing to reside within the camp.

Refugees have long been urged by UNHCR and the authorities to leave Unity State’s Yida camp amidst concerns of its proximity to neighbouring South Kordofan, enabling the relatively free movement of residents back and forth across the border with Sudan.

Refugees have been arriving in South Sudan’s Unity state since conflict broke out in South Kordofan’sNuba Mountains region in 2011.

Photo: Phillip Aguer, South Sudan army spokesman (gurtong.net)

Related:

Breaking: JEM clashes with police in Yida Camp (16 March 2013)

Tension high as authorities plan transfer of Yida (12 December 2012)