R.I.P Gen. Bior-Asuot Ajang and Gen. Kon Anok: The shameful neglect of the war veterans who secured our freedom in South Sudan
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CDR Bior Ajang Duot, CDR Dr John Garang and CDR Salva Kiir Mayardit
By Emmanuel Malual Makuach, Juba, South Sudan
Saturday, 17 August 2024 (PW) — Since South Sudan’s hard-won independence in 2011, the nation has harboured a profound sense of gratitude towards those who sacrificed their lives fighting the Arab forces from North Sudan. These brave souls safeguarded South Sudanese lives and sovereignty, inspiring a wave of patriotism that swept the country as soldiers liberated towns from northern control. However, beneath this veneer of national pride, a disturbing reality has emerged – the shameful neglect of the very veterans who secured the nation’s freedom.
The recent losses of two prominent veterans, Gen. Kon Anok Nyingeer and Gen. Bior-Asuot Ajang Duot, have thrown this neglect into sharp relief. Freedom fighter Kon Anok devoted his entire life to the liberation of South Sudan. During the pivotal Brighter Star campaign of 1997, a battalion bearing his name – christened by the late Dr. John Garang de Mabior – played a crucial role in capturing major towns including Yei, Rumbek, Tonj, Yirol, and Tali. This marked a significant victory for the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A).
However, in the years following independence, Gen. Kon Anok and Gen. Bior-Asuot Ajang have been largely abandoned by the leadership, including President Salva Kiir Mayardit – once their fellow fighter. This betrayal of veterans instrumental to the liberation struggle has led to a mounting death toll among those who secured the country’s freedom. Many of these soldiers, now sidelined and forgotten, languish without support or recognition.
The situation is further complicated by the emergence of the National Congress Party, with its roots in Islamic fundamentalism. Former fundamentalists like Tut Kew, Dhieu Mathok, Elia Lomor, and other SPLM/A “watermelons” have undermined the unity forged during the liberation struggle from Sudan. This has exacerbated internal conflicts and marginalized those once hailed as heroes of the independence movement.
President Kiir’s abandonment of long-time comrades is particularly egregious. Prominent liberation figures such as Gen. Deng Garang Bany, who left Malakal to join the armed struggle alongside Kiir, and the late Gen. Amb. Bior Ajang Duot, who served as a military intelligence officer reporting directly to Commander Salva Kiir (who was the head of movement military intelligence), have been callously disowned by the President.
Both the late Kon Anok and Bior-Asuot Ajang Duot, along with countless others, were placed on controversial “reserve lists,” effectively cutting them off from financial support until their deaths. This growing neglect and the loss of such key figures from the liberation struggle starkly illustrate the betrayal of those who fought to secure South Sudan’s independence.
Many war veterans, once at the vanguard of South Sudan’s struggle, now face dire circumstances. A significant number are homeless and unable to afford crucial medical treatment, often forced to seek care abroad. This crisis stems from the government’s callous decision to lay off numerous veterans immediately after independence, relegating them to “reserve lists” without salaries. This action has left many veterans, burdened with large families to support, in desperate straits.
The rising number of homeless veterans underscores the urgent need for government intervention and increased public awareness. The ongoing deaths of war heroes due to neglect and lack of resources serve as a damning indictment of broken promises made to those who fought for the nation’s freedom.
The government of South Sudan must urgently implement measures to support military veterans battling illness and depression, many of whom now find themselves homeless on the streets of Juba and beyond. It is a bitter irony to hear eulogies from leaders during funerals like that of Amb. Bior Ajang Duot, knowing such messages of condolence do little to help veterans while they still live. The heartfelt condolences at the death of Bior-Asuot Ajang are increasingly overshadowed by a growing sense of national shame: the abject neglect of freedom fighters who sacrificed everything for independence.
Despite the political divisions plaguing the country, both opposition and government must unite to save the remaining members of Shell 1 of the SPLM/A – the group of 164 officers who played a pivotal role in the liberation struggle. Today, only 78 members survive, with many having succumbed to neglect. These veterans are living testaments to the history of South Sudan’s independence, and it is imperative that their sacrifices are honored with tangible support, not just empty words.
The plight of South Sudan’s veterans is a national disgrace that demands immediate action. The government must fulfill its moral obligation to these heroes, providing comprehensive support including healthcare, housing, and financial assistance. Only by honoring the sacrifices of those who secured independence can South Sudan truly move forward as a nation. The time for hollow praise has passed – now is the moment for concrete action to support those who gave everything for their country’s freedom.
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