As predictable, the Libyans are denying that the group is on Libyan territory. Given that only the Libyans have the logistical capability to do a proper search in the area, probably they are right.
Since the incident had been dragging on for over a week now, they must be at some water source, or moving towards one soon. If they are no longer at Uweinat, then most likely they have moved south to one of the oases in the South Libyan Desert (Merga or Bir Natrun) that are currently under the SLA 'sphere of influence'. (Calling them being under anybody's "control" would be a gross overstatement). These oases are about 500-600 kilometres from Uweinat, there is no other water source till the inhabited areas of Darfur a further 300 kilometres south.
An interesting parallel is that in the early nineten thirties the same area was the hideout of a pretty notorious band of bandits led by one Aremi Gongoi, a Goraan of the eastern Ennedi. The Sudan Defence Force made a full fledged military operation in 1931 to capture the bandits, with no result. It later emerged that the bandits simply moved to Bir Bidi, a well some 15 kilometres north of Merga.
Last edited by andrasz; 27 Sep 2008 at 20:27.
|