"We the willing, led by the unknowing, are doing the impossible for the ungrateful. We have done so much, with so little, for so long, we are now qualified to do anything, with nothing" By Konstantin Josef Jireček, a Czech historian, diplomat and slavist.
S E C R E T KHARTOUM 000713 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR L, S/CT, IO, AF/RSA E.O. 12958:
DECL: 03/20/2016 TAGS: PRELPTERMARRMOPSPINSPGOVPINRSUUN
SUBJECT: SPLA CHIEF OF STAFF SAYS GOSS OFFICIALS KNOW WHERE KONY IS AND ARE NEGOTIATING Classified By: P/E Chief Eric Whitaker for reasons: Section 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (S) Summary: During a meeting between Consul General (CG) Juba and SPLA Chief of Staff Oyai Deng on
March 18, Deng said that the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) is in direct contact with Lord's Resistance
Army (LRA) chief Joseph Kony. He said that GoSS Vice President Riek Machar is negotiating with Kony,
and that Kony is currently in a camp "a few miles" off the road between Maridi and Lafon. End Summary.
2. (S) When CG asked if rumors of SPLA operations against the LRA around Maridi and Yei were true,
Deng replied that the SPLA in fact was engaged in more friendly contacts. GoSS Vice President Riek Machar
had contacted Kony, who had agreed to talks. Deng deflected questions about what was on the table, noting
only that "we want to find out what they want." He continued that the SPLA had in fact launched operations
against LRA elements around Maridi and Yei in response to LRA attacks. Deng thought it was strange that
the LRA continued to attack while engaged in friendly talks with the GoSS, and thought this might
indicate a command and control issue in the LRA. He then said Kony was based a "few miles" off the
road between Maridi and Lafon. Deng appeared reticent to offer more; CG did not press.
3. (S) COMMENT: This conversation raises several troubling questions: If Riek Machar indeed knows Joseph
Kony's location and is not assisting in his capture, does this make Machar complicit in continuing LRA
atrocities? If so, does this make Machar indictable by the International Criminal Court? What are the
legal ramifications for the GoSS if, as it appears, it refrains from pursuing Kony, so as to pursue a
peace agreement with him?
End comment. STEINFELD
PaanLuel Wël – Founder and Editor-in-Chief of PaanLuel Wël Media
PaanLuel Wël is the founder and editor-in-chief of PaanLuel Wël Media Ltd, a prominent news and commentary platform dedicated to covering the news, history, culture, literature, and socio-political affairs of South Sudan and the world. Established in July 2011, the website was born out of PaanLuel Wël’s vision to create a space for free expression and constructive dialogue during a pivotal moment in South Sudan’s history.
Through PaanLuel Wël Media, he has cultivated a vibrant intellectual forum that features a diverse range of voices, from poets, authors, and academics to activists, commentators, and community columnists. The platform is rooted in the belief that an informed and engaged citizenry is essential to the project of nation-building and social transformation.
PaanLuel Wël is a passionate advocate for the power of media to educate, empower, and connect people across political, ethnic, and generational divides. He is committed to fostering a culture of dialogue, tolerance, and inclusivity and is deeply invested in mentoring the next generation of South Sudanese writers and journalists.
