R.I.P White Army who perished in defense of Riek Machar
4 min readR.I.P White Army the future leaders of South Sudan and beloved children of Nuer community of Eastern and central upper Nile who perish in defense of Riek Machar.
By Jacob Ngong Ngong, Nairobi- Kenya
May 25, 2016 (SSB) —- Before the reward there must be a labor you plant before you harvest. You sow in tears before you harvest in joy in human nature who ever sacrifice to help you in crisis deserve respect and appreciation. When war broke out in South Sudan people thought that it is going to be a minor issue others who had seen 1991 war say it is going to be a disaster. Because it is obvious in South Sudan leaders are supported along tribal line and that is why there is tribalism in the country.
After the incident in Juba Dr. Riek opt to go to Bor since it is the usual place to capture after he rebels he gave orders to Peter Gatdet by then general Gatdet was the commander of division eight. General Gatdet did so by ordering all Dinka in Division 8 to be killed launch an attack in Panpandiar (SPLA) headquarters ‘Malual- chaat military camps around Bor, kills thousands of people there. Machar went and mobilized white army from Lou nuer to come and start a fresh attach on SPLA soldiers majority were children under 18 years of age fooling them that if you don’t go to war you will be blind according to biblical contexts of Ngundeng.
White army chased away SPLA soldiers and seize the full controlled of Bor, the headquarter of Jonglei. White army in history is a semi official organization formed by the Nuer people of Eastern and central upper Nile. In 1991 the white army was named so due to the Nuer practice of smearing one’s skin with a light colour ash as a protection against insects. In the same year white army mainly from Lou Nuer sub tribe back the breakaway SPLM/A factions headed by Dr. Riek Machar known as SPLA- Nasir in an attack on Dinka majority.
They were partly responsible for the Bor massacre in which more than two thousand people were killed however the white army did not formed long term alliance with other faction in the war actions for short term benefits only among their most regular enemies were Murle tribes competing for land and cattle in Jonglei.
What surprised me most when Dr Riek signed peace with Dr John Garang after the incident of 1991 he didn’t mention anything about white army which he used in the war even when he was the vice president there was nothing like scholarship offer to the young brothers and sisters of white army whose relatives lose their lives defending him. He only think of them again after the incidents in juba. Our beloved south Sudanese citizens should understand that we are being fools to die for personal benefits.
I thinks people involved in politics make a good actors. People like being fools by actors. When you go down to it they like being fool by the politician. a more skillful actor will make you thinks ,but a more skillful politician will make you not to thinks and that is what is facing us in south Sudan politician are making us not to thinks.
This is not about tribalism it is a real issues we are facing as a nation. when Dr Riek signed peace with president Kiir he didn’t mention anything about white army who perish in his defense ,he did not mention anything about their parents who are now in UNMISS camps in juba and across the country, some Gambella jabal aulia etc.
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