Sudan Disclaims Plane Stopped in Juba, Cites Facebook Offer, No UN Comment

By Matthew Russell Lee

 

UNITED NATIONS, September 17, updated -- Amid complaints from South Sudan about Sudanese planes violating its airspace, Sudan has shot back about a specific plane.

  Sudanese army spokesman Al-Sawarmy Khalid Saad said that "the plane, which Juba claims to have violated its airspace, is owned by Rumbaik Air Cargo Company which is registered in Sharjah. This company is owned by a Sudanese citizen, Osman Mohamed Osman, who is residing in the United Arab Emirates. The plane, AN12, is chartered from a company belonging to South Africa."

  Inner City Press asked the UN about this on Monday, whether the UNMISS mission in South Sudan can confirm or deny the above and the airspace violations. UN spokesman Martin Nesirky said he would check. Video here, in Minute 7.

  An Internet search for Rumbaik Air Cargo Company finds only a Facebook page with 10 "likes," a photograph of a plane and offers to rent three planes.

A/C Type     B747-200 Freighter
Capacity     105 Ton Net & 730m3 (Nose & side door)
Departure A/P NBO
Arrival A/P Open (Europ / Asia / Africa)

A/C Type A300 – B4 Freighter
Capacity 40 Ton Net & 230m3 (side door)
Departure A/P UAE (SHJ / DWC / RKT / FJR)
Arrival A/P Open (Africa / Middle East / Asia)

A/C Type 3 x DC8 – 63f Freighter
Capacity 40 Ton Net & 180m3 (side door)
Departure A/P NBO / UAE
Arrival A/P Open (Africa / Middle East / Asia)

  So who might have rented the plane cited by Sudan, and for what?

  Al-Sawarmy Khalid Saad said that "the plane was conducting a number of flights that started from Djibouti to Dar Essalam and Mozambique, and from Juba to Fuluj for the interest of a German organization... the aviation authorities at Juba airport first told them that the plane was held due to oil leakage and then that the crew was incomplete and finally came the accusation that the plane was carrying military equipment to the rebels."

  So a plane advertised on Facebook was allegedly carrying weapons to rebels in South Sudan? One would think that the UN Mission in South Sudan would confirm or deny this.

Update: Inner City Press asked the contact person for Rumbaik Air Cargo Company about Sudan's allegations, in detail. The reply:

"Hi Matthew, My question, what i[t] have to do with me, Rgds, Fawad"

   Why did Sudan name this three-plane company? Watch this site.