Pagan Amuom: Two Times Lucky in the Web of South Sudan Politics
5 min readBy Malith Alier, South Sudan
It is 25 Apr. 14, the day when Pagan Amuom, the former SPLM Secretary General and three other coup suspects are released from detention in Juba. The etiology of their detention is directly traced to last December attempted coup against Salva Kiir led government in Juba in the Republic of South sudan. Though this coup was denied by the world and continued to be denied by the accused, they have gone down in history as those who have been detained and put on trial for a mutual self annihilation stoked by SPLM party members who run the government in a rebel manner.
With the rebellion suspected ring leaders in the bush and those caught red handed released, the rebellion is now a poison chalice to the people of South Sudan who have perished in great numbers since first days of the contention. The world, who have been advocating for the release of eleven detainees have finally got their wish fulfilled. This may not necessarily be in the interest of the country as many thought. These very people have been recycling in government without apparent interest of the country at heart. Billions of funds disappeared without trace on their watch but chose no action in the interest of the country. The group of 15 super rich which was later expanded to 75 were identified but left scot free.
Pagan Amuom is a veteran of both Anya nya two and the SPLA. He is one of the Garang Boys as opposed to Salva Kiir Boys of which is Dr. Majak Da’Agot. The two camps of Garang Boys and Kiir Boys do not naturally blend as part of the same SPLA party. This is probably as a result of disagreement between Garang and Kiir in 2005 on how to run the affairs of the SPLM and indeed those of the country. Here, it’s worth mentioning that Dr. Riek Machar has his own boys such as Taban Gai and the rest of those who swung between the government and contumacy (rebellion).
Pagan is a seasoned politician full of oratory skills unlike his peers in the SPLM party. He fluently speaks English and Arabic during political rallies in Juba and other cities. He modelled himself on the late Dr. Garang who was able to make up persuasive ancient stories some of which are extracted from the Old Testament and linked them to the current situation in the Sudan. On one occasion he audaciously stated that Rumbek was the Garden of Eden and human kind originated in South Sudan.
As a veteran of Anya nya Two and the SPLA, Pagan is not new to controversy in former Sudan and now South Sudan. He was among the unfettered critics of the Bashir and his regime. On one occasion while he was a minister in the Office of the President in Khartoum he called the government of which he was a minister a criminal regime which has lost direction. He was known to be a basher of GoNu or Government of National Unity while Sudan was still united.
Pagan Amuom was elected SPLM Secretary General in 2008 convention in Juba. The term of office of the SG and his team is eight years after which another election may be arranged through a national convention. However, the SPLM defaulted to hold its national convention in 2012 because of loggerheads among its organs like Political Bureau and National Liberation Council. This is one of the geneses of the current crises that have spilt over in to bloodshed. As the top party Boss, Pagan Amuom got involved in corruption allegations related to US Dollar 60m released to the SPLM by Sudan Government for initial establishment of the government of Southern Sudan. The former Minister of Finance Akuin Chol went to court to sue Pagan for defamation disappearance of US Dollar 30m. These court proceedings put a spot on the role played by the government and the Chief Justice who walked on the court while the case was being heard. There was a public outcry for the quick acquittal of pagan of all the charges related to the financial scandal.
That government protectionism of the powerful SPLM SG fast disappeared when he decided to challenge the SPLM chairman, Comrade Kiir in leadership contest along with Riek Machar and Nyandeng Atem. He took campaigning to the media and social gatherings to the annoyance of the chairman and supporters. He was therefore, put on a high level investigation by a committee headed by SPLM deputy Chairman, Wani Igga. He was also gagged and put under travel ban pending investigations.
Pagan Amuom defied the Chairman by refusing to appear before the committee. The only thing he did not attempt to do prior to December 6 news conference by the group of disgruntle former top government officials was to talk to the media and travel outside Juba. He sensed that the security might arrest him. During the NLC meeting on 14th and 15th of December pagan did not attend but his dismissal from his post was tabled as recommended by the investigation committee. No sooner has the two day conference ended than the conflict eruption engulfed Juba and spread far and wide.
Pagan Amuom is finally out now, but the decision is his whether to join Riek Machar or to be part of G7 or form a forth group of G4 if they strike an agreement among themselves.
The international and national campaign to free Pagan and the group has borne fruit and he is indeed a two times lucky in South Sudan contemporary politics. Out of corruption charges and attempted coup, his fate will now depend on further actions he may choose.
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