Why Greater Upper Nile Militancy is to Blame for a Culture of Violence in South Sudan
12 min readBy Malith Alier
After the conclusion of Addis Ababa peace agreement (APA) of 1972 those who were unhappy about that agreement remained in the bush. They were later referred to as Any-nya two. Their number was greatly reduced as a result of that agreement and subsequent integration of Any-nya one forces into the Sudanese army. The defaulting Any-nya forces had serious reservations over the APA short comings in addressing their overall demands that lead them to be in the bush for 17 years. Even if critical issues like self determination and the Abyei issue were included in the agreement, there appeared no built in guarantees that this agreement was going to be implemented.
Most of The following rebel leaders hail from greater Upper Nile region. The cited timeframes are not exact but may overlap because different rebels rebelled at different times.
Gai Tut, Akuot Atem, Gordon Koang and Abdalla Chuol 1972 – 1984
These men were core Any-nya one officers. However, after APA of 1972 they decided to remain in the bush and later became known as Any-nya two. During the SPLA leadership contest Gai and Akuot wanted to be leaders as opposed to John Garang, Kerubino and Nyuon. This led to a bloody feud and both men were killed in pursuit.
Dr. Riek Machar, Dr. Lam Akol Gordon Koang Chol 1991 – 2002
It is not clear who initiated the coup against Garang among these men. All are PhD holders not in political science but in engineering and strategic planning. Dr. Riek and Dr. Lam were both high command decorated officers in charge of conflict zones.
It is rumoured that Dr. Lam Akol was the chief strategist but later parted ways after Dr. Riek’s marriage to Emma, an aid worker in their area of operations.
The main reasons cited for the rebellion was that Dr. John Garang treated the SPLM/A like a personal chattel coupled with the apparent lack of democracy thereof. However, what happened after this chain of events is anyone’s guess. The SPLA United or Nasir Faction disintegrated and everyone ended up in Khartoum under the umbrella of the erstwhile enemy whose ways they hated to the core.
Dr. Peter Adwok and Taban Deng Gai 1991 – 2002
Peter Nyaba is a war disable who was amputated on one leg. He joined Riek Machar and Lam Akol but later fell out with the group. They ended up in Khartoum in the house of Beshir. One reason cited by Nyaba for parting ways with Riek is his marriage to Emma McCune. However, like his peers, Dr. Nyaba returned to SPLM and became Minister of Higher Education in the government of National Unity in Khartoum until 2011. He held a similar ministry in South sudan government after 2011 till 2013 when many of his colleagues were jetted out of the cabinet along with a long serving VP, Riek Machar. Peter is accustomed to being a minister to share the spoils of the government hence he thinks that anything else he can rebel against the system. For this reason, he joined Riek Machar who was critical of the government after his dismissal in July 2013. Peter was arrested but released shortly because of lack of evidence to implicate him in the coup.
Taban Deng Gai was a onetime Itang refugee camp manager. He was a darling of the chairman for doing well in managing the camp as well as providing major support to the SPLA on the ground. This is outside view. The man is highly manipulative and rebellious in nature. He is the number after Riek in 2013 rebellious affairs. Taban was the Governor of Unity State until his sacking in 2013 by the President.
Arok Thon, Gelario Modi and Joseph Oduho 1999
Arok Thon Arok was number five in the formation of the SPLA. The SPLA was headed by John Garang followed by Kerubino then William Nyuon, Salva Kiir and finally Arok.
It was rumoured that Mr. Arok was not pleased by this sort of arrangement because he was a senior to Salva Kiir in Sudanese army. Unmindful of this, the chosen leader had his reasons for the new order. This might be among other reasons why Arok eventually returned to Khartoum. He later on died in a plane crash along with Sudanese Vice President in Malakal. Dr. Lam Akol survived that crash.
On the same note, Joseph Oduho was a member of the political wing, the SPLM. The political wing like the military wing was headed by John Garang followed by Oduho and Martin Gai. Note the SPLA/M chairman fell out with many of his deputies during long walk to freedom. Oduho was killed in Panyagor, the present day Twic East County capital in 1992.
William Nyuon, Kerubino Kuanyin, Paulino Matip and Peter Gatdet 1991 – 2005
William Nyuon was the number three most powerful man in the SPLA/M after John Garang and Kerubino Kuanyin Bol. However, this man has an inherent culture of rebellion in his life. He was first in Any-nya one and was among those integrated into the Sudanese army after APA of 1972. According to Abel Alier’s book “Too Many Agreements Dishonoured” Mr. Nyuon as a non-commissioned Officer was sent to Zeraf Island in Upper Nile to capture or Kill a certain captain who expressed contempt over APA. He managed to kill that rebellious captain and was commissioned as a captain himself. Mr. Nyuon joined the rebellion after liquidating many of his colleagues in the Sudanese army in Ayod and Akobo areas of what is now Jonglei State.
As illiterate as he was, Paulino Matip Nhial commanded a large force of rebels compared to his peers along Sudan and South Sudan border. He was indeed the one with the help of Riek Machar who signed agreement with Khartoum that paved the way for oil exploitation in Unity and Upper Nile states. This development benefited the regime in Khartoum and prolonged the civil war in the Sudan. The regime would have crumbled had it not for revenues from petroleum industry. Matip also managed to keep the killer Peter Gatdet on his side. He was an asset not only to SSDA (South Sudan Democratic Army) but also to the SPLA, Torit faction under John Garang, the all time strong man.
Peter Gatdet eliminated the enemies of Matip and SPLA and this explains his back forth and to the SPLA freely. Gatdet was also illiterate like his boss, Matip. This explains their cordial relations because they thought along same lines of revolts and elimination of perceived enemies’ superior to them in rank and age. The latest side switch by Peter Gatdet was in 2012 where “Mayom declaration” was made to fight Salva Kiir government but only to return months before long.
Theophilus Ochieng, Peter Lorot and Alfred Ladu Gore 1990 – 2005
Dr. Theophilus Ochieng was a leader of what was known as Equatoria Defence Forces, EDF. Peter Lorot is a little known rebel leader in the whole of South Sudan. His activities were confined to Chukudum and Latuke.
Gatluak Gai, Gabriel Tanginye and Gatwick Dual 1991 – 2012
Gatluak Gai was sadly killed in unclear circumstances while reintegrating his forces in Fangak County in 2012. The SPLA said that it was his guards who killed him because of misunderstanding caused by the agreement with the government. There was accusation and counter accusation but the dust settled shortly after that.
In the many rebellions in the country some are so lucky not to suffer the same fate like Akuot Atem, Gai Tut, William Nyuon, Kerubino Kuany and Gatluak Gai. Gabriel Tanginye is one of those lucky folks. He commanded many attacks during the interim period but always emerged with no hurt. He was even arrested for close to a year before being pardoned in late 2013 together with Peter Abdurrahman Sule but alas he rejoined what he knows best, the current revolt led by Riek Machar.
Gatwich Dual is also another rebel in blood and is now back to it again with Riek Machar. He was put on reserve list along with many of his colleagues but was reinstated with other five Major Generals immediately after coup attempt. Unashamedly, he joined what he prefers, rebellion.
Bapiny Monytuil and Johnson Olony 1991 -2013
Both Bapiny Monytuil and Johnson Olony were the latest arrivals who accepted the President’s amnesty in 2013. They came with large forces some of which are not integrated even today. Some of those forces were stationed in Mayom and are fighting the current unrest along government troops in Unity and Upper Nile states.
For Johnson Olony, the reason for rebellion was the issue of land between his Shilluk and the Dinka in Upper. However, for Bapiny, the reasons are not clearly stated but for the sake of coming back to be reintegrated with your acquired ranks in the bush. This is a self reward system adopted by Southerners since Anya-nya days but blessed by the current President who reintegrated numerous militias unscreened.
George Athor and Peter Abdirahman Sule 2010 – 2012
George Athor was one of the heroes of liberation struggle in South Sudan. He was a highly decorated commander who happened to be one of deputies of SPLA chief of general staff.
Like Yau Yau, he rebelled after 2010 election when he failed to become a governor of Jonglei State. Despite persuasions to be impatient he launched a rebellion whose aim was sketchy to most. One time trial and failure is not an indication that one has lost forever. Athor ended up dead under unclear circumstance like Gatluak Gai.
The rebellion by peter Sule was nipped in the bud. He got arrested in Central Equatoria, his home State and was later pardoned with Tanginye in late 2013. He was a chairman of United Democratic Front, UDF. He contested 2010 general elections under the ticket of UDF but failed.
David Yau Yau 2010 – present
This man is a two time rebel as a result of 2010 elections where he unsuccessfully contested for an elected seat in his state of Jonglei. He responded to general amnesty only to disown it months later for reasons known to him and his Murle tribesmen. The second rebellion was bloodier leading to human rights violation accusations on the government of South Sudan. The Yau Yau rebellion bears semblance with that of Riek Machar of 1991 and present because they both led exclusively by members of their tribes. This is something that limits their appeal nationally.
Riek Machar, Taban Deng, James Koang and Peter Gatdet 2013 – present
The greatest rebel leader, Riek Machar who started the latest torrid events in the country thinks that he is a beneficiary of prophet Ngundeng’s prophecies. He was the country’s Vice President until his sacking in July 2013. Last year’s coup is his second attempt at the presidency of South Sudan.
Taban is a notorious manipulator in politics. He had switched sides triple times since 1983. He was unconstitutionally sacked along with Chol Tong Mayay of Lakes State in 2013.
Meanwhile, James Koang Chol rebelled for the first time ever perhaps he was misinformed about the supposed Nuer massacre in Juba after coup attempt. He was until then a respected general in the SPLA for his diligent work during and after the liberation struggle. He was shortly installed himself as Unity State governor after his forces capture Bentiu from SPLA forces.
Peter Gatdet is a notorious rebel who had switched sides severally in the past. His whereabouts are currently not known whether he is a life or dead. He exhibited estranged behaviour just before the December 2013 rebellion but strange enough he got away with it despite attempts by his juniors and security forces in Division 8 stationed in Jonglei State. Peter Gatdet had never been to school and what he knows best is military uniform of which he cannot live outside.
The 2013 rebellion saw mass defections from all SPLA forces by Nuer sons. They left death and destruction in their wake just like 1991.
The former greater Upper Nile as a region has also had great leaders who changed the course of history of South Sudan for good. Some of the prominent leaders include Dr. John Garang and Maulana Abel Alier. They were both involved in the histories of Anya-nya one and the SPLA. During the negotiation of APA and CPA they had greater parts and their deeds are recorded in the annals of history of this country. This dichotomy reminds us of the saying that where there is greater evil there is greater blessing. The greater evil is the many aimless rebellions that cause suffering and take the country back to dark days of Stone Age.
In the Citizen Newspaper on 15 Feb. 14, Ahmed A. Morgan, a Lecturer at the University of Juba examines the costs and benefits of rebellions and wars that have been there since 1955 up to today in an article entitled “The Costs and Benefits of the Culture of Continues Rebellions by South Sudanese” he that stated no goods reasons are always advanced for continues rebellions which are in themselves a failure to deal with issues politically. He is of the idea that the South Sudanese are the same whether they illiterates or PhD holders politically. He thinks that if this country called South Sudan had good politicians like late Mandela, Gandhi, Yaser Arafat and Martin Luther King then its independence could have come through peaceful means rather than wars. He noted that what we have in this country are tribal heads who masquerade as politicians on the outside. He explains that the short sightedness of the so called politicians who always choose rebellions caused destruction and retardation each time the nation tries to move forward.
This nation indeed tried to move forward in 2013 despite corruption that crippled many critical areas of development. Mr. Morgan wondered whether South Sudanese are cursed with constant wars that have no end in sight. Each time this sort of rebellion occurs what the country gets are loss of human lives, maiming/amputations of thousands, displacement internally or externally, food insecurity hence danger of starvation. These are the consequences of the each cycle of violence. This is even worse when it is the same people who perpetuated violence but achieved nothing in the past. In this context, Riek Machar is the point man who prefers violence to attain political solutions to political problems.
In summary, Upper Nile takes greater share of rebellions more than other former regions of Equatoria and Bhar El Ghazel combined. This is attributable to certain communities being rebel minded in the region. Mr. Ahmed Morgan blamed a culture of rebellion in the country that seems to have taken hold over the lives of South Sudanese politicians who resort to their communities to settle political scores.
He thinks that war solves no problems but it instead causes suffering to the population. Loss of life, retardation of development, disability, displacement, food insecurity and break down of law and order are the results of any war. The latest round of violence was absolutely unnecessary. This deadly round of tribal conflict will increase political and tribal temperatures and this is not good for the country. Some people had their children in schools in neighbouring countries. These children will now leave schools and join the suffering masses in refugee camps.
Index of names of rebel leaders according to regions of South Sudan
Greater Upper Nile Region
1. Samuel Gai Tut
2. Akuot Atem de Mayen
3. Gordon Koang Chuol
4. William Abdalla Chuol
5. James Koang Chol
6. David Yau Yau
7. George Athor Deng
8. Bapiny Monytuil
9. Johnson Olony
10. Gatluak Gai
11. Gabriel Tanginye
12. Gatwick Dual
13. William Nyuon Bany
14. Paulino Matip Nhial
15. Peter Gatdet Yak
16. Arok Thon Arok
17. Dr. Riek Machar Teny
18. Dr. Lam Akol Ajawin
19. Dr. Peter Adwok Nyaba
20. Taban Deng Gai
Greater Equatoria Region
1. Peter Abdurrahman Sule
2. Gelario Modi Wurnyang
3. Joseph Oduho
4. Peter Lorot
5. Theophilus Ochieng
6. Alfred Ladu Gore
Greater Bhar El Ghazel Region
1. Kerubino Kuanyin
References
• Liberator Magazine July 2011
• Citizen Newspaper 15/02/14
• Too Many Agreements Dishonoured (Author: Abel Alier)
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