CAIRO Ñ Sudan's military, flushed with new air platforms and
weapons, is trying to demonstrate that it can fight rebels in the south
despite heavy rains.
Western diplomatic sources said the Khartoum regime has for the first
time in years launched an offensive during the country's rainy season in an
attempt to take the rebel Sudanese People's Liberation Army by surprise. The
sources said Khartoum wants to drive rebels out of strategic towns near the
oil fields in the south before peace negotiations are scheduled to begin in
two weeks.
"The government feels it has to improve its military position in order
to obtain significant concessions from the SPLA," a diplomatic source said.
"The military's performance is impressive, but cannot be sustained more than
a few weeks."
Khartoum and the SPLA disagree over the definition of any proposed
self-determination for southern Sudan. The two sides also differ over the
size of any such autonomous area.
Sudan is said to be using its new Mi-24 attack helicopters supplied by
Russia to destroy rebel positions. The government, which also has received
Russian MiG-29 fighter-jets has also bolstered its forces by deploying
troops evacuated from the central Nuba mountains, where a ceasefire was
declared earlier this year.
The sources had expected Khartoum's military to suspend its offensive
amid the onset of the rainy season as Sudan had done over the last 19 years
of civil war. The military and the SPLA were engaged in heavy fighting in
the southern region during the dry season, which extends from January to
May.
"There's no question that this is a new development and reflects a leap
in military capability," a Western diplomatic source said. "But it's
doubtful that the Sudanese are flying helicopter or fixed-wing missions in
this poor weather."
The source said Russian pilots are believed to be flying the helicopter
gunship missions. Over the weekend, the military deployed three Mi-24 attack
helicopters as cover for ground troops in a three-pronged attack on the
strategic village of Tam.
The military offensive was reportedly successful and after a three-day
battle the Khartoum regime drove out an estimated 250 SPLA rebels and
captured Tam. The SPLA said more than 1,000 people were killed in the
military offensive. The Sudanese government has denied that civilians have
been targeted in the fighting. The military has not issued a statement on
the battle for Tam.
The fighting in Sudan came amid an agreement between the government and
the SPLA to begin peace negotiations in August that would include
self-determination for the south. The agreement has dismayed Egypt and
Libya, which had launched their own peace initiative to end the civil war in
the south.
Osama El Baz, the diplomatic adviser of Egyptian President Hosni Mubara,
expressed concern that negotiations between Khartoum and the SPLA could
result in a separate state in the south. El Baz warned that any division of
Sudan would encourage separatist groups in other African countries.
El Baz, responsible for Egypt's policy in Africa, said Cairo's greatest
concern is for the integrity of such countries as Ethiopia, Kenya and
Uganda. He said ethnic, religious and tribal divisions could result in
splintering Africa into as many as 100 separate countries, double the
current number.