The Position of the Nuer Council of Elders on the Need to Unite Nuer Power
9 min readSTRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL: THE NEED FOR IMMEDIATE UNIFICATION OF THE NUER FORCES
A proposal for consideration by Nuer political and military leaders
PROBLEM
The survival and destiny of the Nuer people is under grave threat from several forces. The most deadly of these forces is the current disunity among the Nuer people and leaders. This disunity has manifested itself in the form of several political and military groups; some of which are hostile to each other and others aligned with the Sudan government.
THE DISPERSION OF NUER INTO SEVERAL MOVEMENTS:
At present Nuer military forces are sadly dispersed into several movements, some of which are not concerned about the future survival and fundamental interests of the Nuer nationality. Infact some of these movements have clear intentions of destroying the Nuer people or reduce them to mere subservient who must be humiliated and oppressed.
Worse still, some of these movements and organizations are only determined to eliminate Nuer political leaders so that they can take-over the Nuer fighting men and use them as fighters for them while they develop their grand hegemonic ethnic based political plans in maximum security while giving lip service to lofty nationalist slogans.
The Nuer must wake up to these dangers now or else they must be ready to face genocide or ethnic cleansing in the not too distant future. The fact that some of the strategic natural resources are located in Nuer land is another added source of danger.
The following are the movements into which Nuer are divided:-
1. The SPLM/SPLA
The strategy of the SPLM/SPLA is to absorb and integrate Nuer fighting forces into its rank without affecting the political dominance and supremacy of certain sections of the Dinka over all its political structures. Under this sinister strategy the Nuer elite must be isolated or even physically eliminated. This is the best strategy cherished by Dr. Garang and other Dinka political elite in and outside the SPLM/SPLA. Like the Arabs of Northern Sudan, SPLM leadership wants to use the Nuer soldiers of junior or no ranks to fight for their political kingdom in which the Nuer will be underdogs. The hunt for Nuer fighters without their leaders is already at full swing. Cdr. Peter Gadet has already been compelled to join the SPLA as a condition for getting some military equipment with which to defend his people. He was arm-twisted into SPLA by Dr. Garang directly against the policy of co-operation and co-ordination that Cdr. Salva Kiir Mayardit was pursuing in Bahr al Ghazal. Of course the ultimate result of blackmailing some Nuer into the SPLA maybe the rekindling of inter-Nuer fighting in Western Upper Nile. It can also be predicted that the planned push by SPLA authorities into Nuer areas of Upper Nile under the leadership of Cdr. John Kong (a Nuer) will also result in nothing but fighting between the SPLA and the Nuer forces in those areas. We may as yet see another repeat of the 1991 situation since the Nuer may not accept their areas to be occupied and dominated by SPLA in the manner it had occupied Eastern Equatoria and treated its people.
2. The South Sudan Liberation Movement-SSLM:
This movement came about as a result of the Waat Declaration by Nuer commanders representing the Nuer military forces in Upper Nile. The Commanders de-linked themselves from the Sudan government because of its failure to honour the April 21st Khartoum Agreement. The Waat Declaration called for the formation of a unified military command and the formation of a political body to organize the people for the struggle. At the time this declaration was made in Waat Dr. Riek Machar was still with the Sudan government as Assistant President and Chairman of the Co-ordination Council for the Southern States.
On January 31st 2000, Dr. Wal Duany declared the formation of the South Sudan Liberation Movement. This movement has its followers among the people of Upper Nile and among the Nuer in particular.
3. The Sudan People’s Democratic Front-SPDF
After the Declaration of SSLM, Dr. Riek Machar resigned from the government of Sudan. He blamed the government for not honouring the Khartoum agreement. He sent in his resignation to Khartoum through a radio massage. Thereafter, Dr. Riek formed the Sudan People’s Democratic Movement as he also had resigned from the UDSF. The SPDF and SSLM are competing for support of the former SSDF forces in Upper Nile.
4. Forces with NIF
Cdr. Elijah Hon Top, Paulino Matip, Gordon Koang, Simon Gatwec Dual and Gabriel Tang-ginye are regrouping and reorganizing the remaining SSDF, SSUA and Thora Jikany forces that are not part of SSLM or SPDF with the help of the GOS. Their objective is to push out any forces that may be loyal to SSLM, SPDF or SPLA in Upper Nile. This makes the possibility of Inter-Nuer fighting very probable. If this were to be allowed to happen, the options before SSLM and SPDF in the absence of any source of military supplies would be very critical. This could also provide the SPLA with its wish of receiving back fleeing SSLM and SPDF forces into its ranks so that it can use them as combat forces with which to confront the pro-government militias in the Upper Nile. The Nuer forces that are opposed to the GOS would suffer serious humiliation as they would have to choose either to rejoin the SPLA humbly on their knees or to go to their Luaks. Their leaders would suffer most as the Dinka dominated SPLA would not spare them.
No Support without unity:
Without unity between SSLM and SPDF both can hope for nothing by way of military support from any country. The victims will be the Nuer people who will be left defenceless. The responsibility will fall squarely on the Nuer leaders themselves.
The Challenge:
The greatest challenge for the Nuer people is how to unify their military forces and therefore defend their people. This is a critical issue, which must be addressed if the Nuer are to have any role to play at all in the politics of the South and the Sudan. Without unity and organization, the Nuer people are doomed and will have no status in the future South Sudan. The immediate priority is therefore to bring about unity between the SSLM and SPDF as a first step. The Second step will be to bring back into the fold all the other Nuer forces that are now with the GOS.
The way forward:
Unity among the Nuer people is an imperative that must be achieved at all costs taking into account the higher interests of the Nuer community and basic aspirations of the people of South Sudan. An interim unity plan must be adopted forthwith by the leaders and community elders under which the SPDF and SSLM must come under unified leaderships. This interim emergency plan shall be effective for 3 months beginning from September 2000 and ending December 2000. Between the months of December 2000 and January 2001, a general conference or convention of Nuer people from the four Nuer regions shall be convened to resolve all political and organizational matters including the issue of leadership.
Guiding principles:
1. Nuer people are a nation with one destiny and one fate. Their strength lies in their unity.
2. In order to claim their rightful position and play their historic role and contribution in the determination of the political future of South Sudan, and even the whole Sudan, it is mandatory that all Nuer political and military forces must organize under one umbrella and act together.
3. Leadership is a responsibility and trust that is conferred by the people to serve their higher interests and goals. Nuer leadership is democratic, transparent and people based. It is not fought for nor usurped by force. The leader is mandated by the people.
4. The current dispersion of the Nuer people into the various political camps has left the Nuer people very vulnerable and threatened with total margnalisation in the affairs of the South. To reverse this situation the SPDF and SSLM must merge and create a strong unified collective leadership that can protect the people.
5. The future of the South Sudan without a unified voice and participation of the Nuer people is bleak, unity of the Nuer nationality is essential for the Unity of the South, and particularly the people of the Greater Upper Nile.
6. The Nuer military forces must remain independent of the SPLA and must not be absorbed and subordinated. They are the shield and defenders of honour of the Nuer. It is the duty of Nuer leaders to organize them into an effective and credible combat force that can defend Nuerland from any intruders and those who may target the Nuer people.
7. Divisions among Nuer political leaders constitute a dangerous phenomenon. Their continuation exposes the leaders and people to extreme danger and must be immediately brought to an end.
8. Unified Nuer political and military power has to be exercised in a collective way on the basis of consensus.
9. Efforts will be made to attract and include the Nuer forces in SPLA and the GOS into the unification process.
10. During the process of unification and reorganization of the Nuer military forces an Interim Leadership Council shall be formed and shall conduct extensive diplomatic work for material support. The Interim Leadership Council shall categorically declare its commitment to the right of self-determination for the people of South Sudan and work out a position for the peaceful resolution of the conflict.
11. Nuerland is endowed with enormous natural resources such as oil, gold, water, cattle, forestry resources and vast agricultural land. It is not a land of poverty. Nuer People must derive benefit from these resources.
FORMATION OF THE INTERIM LEADERSHIP COUNCIL OF SPDF AND SSLM:
The two movements shall in the run up to General Conference or Convention shall have an Interim Leadership Council to be composed as follows:-
1. Chairman of ILC and Chairman Military Affairs Committee
2. Deputy Chairman ILC and Chairman Committee for Political Affairs and Organization.
3. Assistant Chairman ILC and Chairman Committee on Civil Administration and Internal Security.
4. Chairman, Foreign Affairs Committee
5. Chairman, Finance and Commerce Committee
6. Chairman, Information and Publicity Committee
7. Chairman, Humanitarian Affairs and Services Committee
SENIOR ADVISORS TO ILC:
There shall be three Senior Advisors to the ILC as follows:
1- Senior Advisor on Military Affairs
2- Senior Advisor on Legal Affairs
3- Senior Advisor on Civil Administration and Human Resources Development
FORMATION OF MILITARY COMMITTEE:
The Military Committee whose functions shall be the reorganization and training of the military forces shall consist of the following officer:-
1. Cdr. Peter Bol Kong – D/Chairman Military Committee
2. Cdr. James Yiech Biet – Member
3. Cdr. Timothy Taban – Secretary
4. Cdr. Tito Biel Chuor – Member
5. Cdr. Kuong Donhier – Member
6. Cdr. Nyang Chol – Member
7. Cdr. Maguek Gai – Member
8. Cdr. Pathot Dup – Member
9. Cdr. Duoth Nhial – Member
10. Cdr. Tut Gatpan – Member
CONFERENCE ORGANIZING COMMITTEE:
1. Mr. John Luk Jok
2. Mr. Timothy Tot Chol
3. Rev. Matthew Deng
4. Mr. Gabriel Yoal Dok
5. Prof. Gabriel Jal
6. Mr. John Jack Deng
7. Mr. Simon Kun Pouc
8. Mr. Arkangelo Kur Yai
Venue of the conference: to be agreed upon:
Functions and powers of ILC and other organs
The functions and powers of all interim structures shall be worked out by a committee to be appointed by agreement.
Name of the movement:
During the Interim period the unified movement shall have one name to be agreed upon by the parties concerned. In the event of failure to agree, the unified movement can still be referred to as SSLM-SPDF or SPDF-SSLM. The name must however reflect the objectives.
Political objectives of the movement:
The political objectives, constitution and programme shall be formulated and agreed upon.
Alternative option:
An alternative option to the above is to constitute SPDF and SSLM into an alliance which can also include other Southern groups that may wish to join it. The Alliance could be called the Democratic Alliance of South Sudan (DASS). This idea can also be explored.
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