How to defeat South Sudan militias?
By Steve Paterno
April 21, 2011 — It has always been expected that the regime in Khartoum, in one shape or form, will continue to undermine the new emerging nation of South Sudan. Evidences on this are in plenty. One way of Khartoum’s attempts to undermine South Sudan nation is the use of proxy militia forces to wage wars in the South. Some of these militias are already propped up in the Upper Nile region, particularly in Jongolei, Unity and Upper Nile States. The activities of these militias in the region already caused hundreds of death, displacement of populations, and humanitarian catastrophe.
There are certain factors related to these militia, which make them deadly and a force to be reckoned with. Their activities can have a long term implications on the survival of South Sudan. Two of the militia groups are led by high ranking military officers who have extensive experience in combat operations. Major Gen. Peter Gadet, who is currently leading the militia in Unity State is arguably among the most skillful fighters in South Sudan. Gadet spent more than a decade leading a parallel war of his own in Unity State, where he constantly switched allegiances between the SPLA and the Khartoum’s armed forces. During the war, he was single handedly responsible for the disruptions of oil productions in the region. The death of the two senior founders of SPLM/A, Kerubino Kwanyin Bol and William Nyuon are linked to him.
Lt. Gen. George Athor Deng has also had a successful military career. He spent his time in SPLM/A war of liberation as a zonal commander, fighting both the Khartoum armed forces and the militias in Upper Nile region. He went on to become the deputy chief of staff of SPLA, under the government of South Sudan, until he resigned his post, where he ran as unsuccessful gubernatorial candidate for Jongolei State.
There is no doubt that all the militia elements have loyalists, actively serving in the government of South Sudan, both in the military and political arena. The fact that some of the SPLA operations against these militia targets are botched, are indications that messages about these operations might have possibly been relied to the militias from those within the SPLA ranks and files. It is also troubling to see political leadership divided on what measures to take in dealing with this militia menace. Worse yet, some from within the political arena are joining ranks with the militias. And another yet troubling sign is that there are those South Sudanese, not necessary members of the militias, but disapprove of the government of South Sudan performance who are generally sympathizing with the plight of these militias.
All of these militias are operating under their tribal areas, where loyalties are very high, which boost the moral as well as serve as recruiting grounds. This also means that the militias will survive longer in these areas. In the long run, the militias will be able to disrupt the lifeline of South Sudan economy, the oil industry, since most of their activities are centered in oil producing areas. This will result into South facing challenges in drilling new oil fields, building its own refineries, or even construct oil transportation route Southwards, as the new nation intends to target East African markets and ports for a new line of exports. Such will create an ideal situation for the regime in Khartoum to rig big benefits from South Sudan oil output, because Khartoum will continue to refine and transport the oil produce in the South, and at a whim, gives South Sudan share of its revenues what Khartoum deems is necessary, perhaps the lowest percentage ever. People in Khartoum will have their work cut out for them cheaply, with the mere activities of few sponsored tribal militias.
In order to be successful in its operations against the militias, the SPLA needs to conduct most of its operations in secrecy, with only few people who are in the need-to-know to be informed. Application of intelligence and counter-intelligence must play bigger roles in these operations. The SPLA must adopt a containment strategy, where the militias are confined in certain areas to deny them access to the civil population, cut them of supply routes, and stop them from carrying out successful operations.
The differences among these militia groups must be exploited to the fullest extend. For example, the two top militia leaders, Major Gen. Peter Gadet and Lt. Gen. George Athor Deng will likely not collaborate between themselves as much as people think. There are several reasons for this and one of which is that neither one of them will allow himself to be commanded by the other.
The leadership in Juba must quickly come up with strong measures in addressing the situation as oppose to them being divided on the issue or being oblivious about it. The prevailing sentiment of sympathy toward the cause of these militias among those South Sudanese who are frustrated with performances of their government will eventually spill trouble, therefore, to reverse the course, there need to be major reforms in the government to address some of the grievances being raised by the South Sudanese citizens.
It is time now that the SPLM leadership stop complaining about Khartoum, but rather devise its own strategy in countering the actions of the regime in Khartoum. The SPLM leadership needs to tell Khartoum in no uncertain terms that there are SPLM as well as SPLA in the Northern Sudan, particularly in Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile. These veterans can be activated if needs be to carry both political and military wars, directly at Khartoum. There are also the natural allies of SPLM at Darfur and Eastern Sudan, whom the SPLM is capable of supporting to mount a successful political and military wars against the regime in Khartoum. Khartoum should not be allowed a monopoly of waging proxy wars.
One of the first international acts, the new nation of South Sudan must undertake is to be a signatory of International Criminal Court (ICC), a body that has no boundaries in prosecuting individuals who commit war atrocities. Along with such international deterrence, South Sudan should not tolerate the notion that if one has grievances within South Sudan, the best option is to pick up arms, kill, and then negotiate. Such move must be considered crime of highest order, treason.
Steve Paterno is the author of The Rev. Fr. Saturnino Lohure, A Romain Catholic Priest Turned Rebel. He can be reached at [email protected]
Lokorai
How to defeat South Sudan militias?
Mr. Steve,
Militia groups are going to disappear after independence; the attacks and ambushes you hear everyday there in Upper will cease so soon!
But let me say sadly here something: there could be some groups within SPLM that are playing this game and only wait for an opportunity to declare themselves opponents.
I have little clue however, but a pointer shows that a certain tribe would love chaoes ensue so to blame on one group or tribe they think aren’t capable of leading at the moment; i hope you are getting behind my lines…
May Almighty God help Southern Sudan!!!
Lokorai
Lo Isu
How to defeat South Sudan militias?
@ Lokorai
This is a naked lie. Associating this militias to one tribal group depicts your presumptive ideology. Athor, Yau Yau and Gadet, do they belong to one tribe.
Your statement….I have a little clue……is a clear manifestation that your comment is assumed than fact.
People of your like live in the past that is why everything happening now to you directly relates to the past. In th event that this is true then it means people did not learn from their past mistakes.
Lets look and analyze issues as per present other than having ready answers of the past. This is the 21st century in case you are not aware. So if such a propaganda as you posted was used to solve issues in the 19th century, take it from me it can not yield same results now.
Bol Deng
How to defeat South Sudan militias?
Dear steve,
I agree with you that SPLM must be active monitoring these militias and deal with them seriously.
The SPLM are not serious about these rebels that are disturbing the people of South Sudan after the hard war was over 6 years ago.
yes, for sure there are loyals in the SPLM/A who are working with militia days and nights but i do not understand why these people are not caught by the intelligence.
If SPLM/A do not open its eyes then they will be caught while a sleep. caution!
Peter Nhiany
How to defeat South Sudan militias?
Mr. Paterno,this is a very good article and it would be nice if GoSS leadership has access to such kind of opinionated articles. I have been thinking in the way way you just described in your article.
The best way for SPLAm/SPLA to contain this malicious mailitias activities in the States you mentioned in your article is to cut them off from getting access to Khartoum and and from entering in civilian populated areas.
It looks to me as if SPLA is a new army and that it does not know how they can overcome such disturbing rebels activities in the regions.
Those of Peter Gatdet and George Athor are making a huge mistake in their militar or political history;that is not the way you should express your frustration and complaint.
You should try and take any possible peaceful legal steps to get your rights, but not by rebelling against the party you had been a servant to. It is a shame and disgrace to the a history they have written in their military career. They are spoiling their resumes unknowingly.
See how bad it is to turn against your own government in an agressive and unthinkable manner. It is a shame and for sure it is a no doubt greed for power. See what happened to Laurent Gbagbo former head of State of Ivory Coast who made stupid resistence after losing election. The same thing will happen to those who are rebelling militarily against SPLM. There is nothing that will block Southerners from acheiving their independent on 7/9/2011.
Juba is being ridiculous on strategizing on how to handle rasing and increasing militias in the South. They really need to take think quick and take immediate action to prevent those rebels from advancing to do more harm to civilians.
I would love to see Peter Gatdet to form a party and challenge SPLM in a political approach rather than using people of his own community to die just for his own personal gain.
I’m sure those who are fighting for him will not even see his office when he become what he want to be in the South. He would better hear with his hears than to hear with his eyes when things reach harsh point in later time.
Peter Nhiany.
Sobat
How to defeat South Sudan militias?
Hi
I never wish to be part of this debate but I feel like telling you my observation as concern citizen to that matter.
I would like to just call on you brother wherever you, that the war in Unity State is not gonna end in Unity state alone. It is going to spread like a wildfire across the south. some of you who visited the South would testify that Nuer is not the only community that is suffering under Salva and Riek Machar regime. I mean, the war is not about the tribe but about the system in Juba. Equatorians and Dinka alike are aggrieved too. Gatdet and George Athor are no longer fighting Taban and Kuol Manyang’s wars.
The war is about few individuals who are enriching themselves with our resources. Our brothers in SPLA were the first victims of our corrupt government in Juba. The generals, in our arms never bother to pay our army but just pocket their salaries.
That is why these soldiers are defecting to their former generals in masses. The question is which soldier is going to risk his life to fight and defend a government full of corrupt ministers and army generals? Remember, the SPLA policy toward killed or wounded soldier on the line of duty is to pay off his three months salary to his family and tell them to forget coming back for his due. where on earth soldier who give his life for his country will be forgotten simply like that? only in South Sudan…Our arms generals will not be able to face Gadet because they are busy transferring their loots to foreign banks account before the war caught them in Juba.
Let’s us call a spade a spade brothers, and not to confuse this war waged by Gadet and Athor as militia or Khartoum puppets war. its real and we are going to see Libya scenario between Juba and Greater Upper Nile. I am afraid we may not celebrate our independent under Salva and Riek’s regime.
And mind you, those who thing that if Salva is overthrown today Riek will take over… you are wrong because if Gadet capture Riek today, Gadet will shot him dead like he did to late Karbino. Riek is a part of this mess in Juba and you can’t separate him from Salva because he is Nuer, No… that is not gonna happen. A system is a system period.
Just watch out.
Thanks
Kuol Kuol
BBOY
How to defeat South Sudan militias?
It is indeed a good article. You have touched some of the tactics need to be adopted by the SPLA to defend the political wing SPLM that is currently ruling south Sudan. My bigger fear is that it might be too late for the SPLA to be able to contain the looming fire. I am saying this because we have been hearing that two separate gun battles were fought in unity state, and there is no sign on the ground on whether the SPLA was able to dislogde Militias from area they were based.
As some folks mentioned that Gen. Gatdet and G.George Athor are unique individuals who were highly trained, and have capability to persuade civillians to join them, friends don’t ignore that another war between Southerners is looming. Some high ranking officials within both leadership of GOSS and the militias will be killed, and that will intensify the problem that will lead into tribal war. As you all know that the very real reason for these rebellions is because the leadership of GOSS is short-sighted by corruption, even its soldiers who can stand firm to defend the leadership get nothing as their salaries are cut for 3-6 months or so. They get only $500 US dollars amonth while others do get more than $1000 US dollars amonth on their watch. GOSS officials are being transfered millions of dollars to foreign banks. Their children have better life than children of their defenders who can fight till the last man for the sake of the country. As you might have heard that some soldiers from SPLA have join the militias, this indicates that there is abombshell within the army waiting to explode.
On the other hand, NCP is working hard to support those militias to disrupt South’s independent. You never know a serial killer unless you understand him. SPLM leadership needs to find ways in this critical time to have ceasefire and engages with those individuals if they are willing to talk, and understand and study whatever they demand. We are talking talks that the Dinka are the problem or the Nuer, or other tribes are the problem. My friends, this threat is real and may not be curbed before it spreads to what you guys think. It is not one tribe’s problem. We need to work together as nation to be able to contain this fire. Lets hope that our government will engage to have some sort of dialogue with those individuals. If we choose war to deal with those individuals it might be too late.
Paul Ongee
How to defeat South Sudan militias?
Folks,
If you have been a loser for a number of decades, remember you will always remain so whenever and wherever you change your political or military color. The determination, perseverance and consistency to be who you are under any circumstances will never surface. You always keep flip-flopping on wrong grounds. If the common sense at this particular juncture does say it’s better to address the issue of the alleged corruption in South Sudan by taking up arms against your own government which you first pretended or not to be part of it, then let’s go ahead to see who will really win not only the heart and mind of the people of Southern Sudan but also of regional and international ones.
I personally doubt if Peter Gadet has “really” won the heart and mind of his clan. History has to prove that yet since I was born. All the militia Generals including Peter Gadet who are evidently backed by Khartoum will certainly loose in broad daylight at the end of the day. Do not believe me now if you’re his supporters or not.
Peter Gadet and his likes have no legitimate reasons to rebel against SPLM/SPLA without considering humanitarian cost and unnecessary loss of lives. Since they are Sudanese, they have legitimate reasons to beg for food, money and an Apartment from their masters in Khartoum before the deadline, July 9, 2011. Khartoum can temporarily satisfy their needs but with string attached—go and fight the government of Southern Sudan at any cost on the pretext of corruption, only one tribe ruling south, lack of democracy, you name it. This can all be attributed to ignorance.
Peter Gadet needs to learn how to remove a speck from his own eyes before attempting to point fingers at the leadership of SPLM/SPLA. Khartoum will never certainly let South Sudan just go peacefully with its oil and the alleged inability to govern. So long as there are Peter Gadet and the likes, Khartoum will comfortably provide the necessary logistical support at any rate and ostensibly complain about the military (or political) progress made by Darfur’s rebel groups in the wake of failing Doha peace process. Khartoum can temporarily provide landmines to these militia Generals not only to limit mobility but also to prove their claim that South Sudan is not ready to govern itself. Time is not on their sides.
This is the vilification language of Khartoum who insists that Southern Sudanese are not yet capable of governing themselves although Southerners have been ruling themselves for nearly six years following January 9, 2005. If Khartoum is right, should it be proved by Peter Gadet and the likes? Which school of thought or University in Khartoum or Sudan that Southerners didn’t attend except Peter Gadet and the likes who learned that fighting corruption is only through the barrel of a gun? What did Peter Gadet fail to get in the SPLA or Juba when he came back in 2006?
Khartoum, Peter Gadet and the likes have already embarked on proving their ignorance to the whole world. Their political, military or militia calculator is made in Khartoum but ours is a collection of thoughts from various technological disciplines. That’s why SPLM/SPLA keeps proving them wrong.
SPLM/SPLA has been and will always win so long as Khartoum, Peter Gadet and the likes attempt to maintain their provocative attitude politically or militarily. Celebrations of our hard-won freedom and peace can never ever be interrupted by ignorant militia Generals. Khartoum has
Paul Ongee
How to defeat South Sudan militias?
Folks,
If you have been a loser for a number of decades, remember you will always remain so whenever and wherever you change your political or military color. The determination, perseverance and consistency to be who you are under any circumstances will never surface. You always keep flip-flopping on wrong grounds. If the common sense at this particular juncture does say it’s better to address the issue of the alleged corruption in South Sudan by taking up arms against your own government which you first pretended or not to be part of it, then let’s go ahead to see who will really win not only the heart and mind of the people of Southern Sudan but also of regional and international ones.
I personally doubt if Peter Gadet has “really” won the heart and mind of his clan. History has to prove that yet since I was born. All the militia Generals including Peter Gadet who are evidently backed by Khartoum will certainly loose in broad daylight at the end of the day. Do not believe me now if you’re his supporters or not.
Peter Gadet and his likes have no legitimate reasons to rebel against SPLM/SPLA without considering humanitarian cost and unnecessary loss of lives. Since they are Sudanese, they have legitimate reasons to beg for food, money and an Apartment from their masters in Khartoum before the deadline, July 9, 2011. Khartoum can temporarily satisfy their needs but with string attached—go and fight the government of Southern Sudan at any cost on the pretext of corruption, only one tribe ruling south, lack of democracy, you name it. This can all be attributed to ignorance.
Peter Gadet needs to learn how to remove a speck from his own eyes before attempting to point fingers at the leadership of SPLM/SPLA. Khartoum will never certainly let South Sudan just go peacefully with its oil and the alleged inability to govern. So long as there are Peter Gadet and the likes, Khartoum will comfortably provide the necessary logistical support at any rate and ostensibly complain about the military (or political) progress made by Darfur’s rebel groups in the wake of failing Doha peace process. Khartoum can temporarily provide landmines to these militia Generals not only to limit mobility but also to prove their claim that South Sudan is not ready to govern itself. Time is not on their sides.
This is the vilification language of Khartoum who insists that Southern Sudanese are not yet capable of governing themselves although Southerners have been ruling themselves for nearly six years following January 9, 2005. If Khartoum is right, should it be proved by Peter Gadet and the likes? Which school of thought or University in Khartoum or Sudan that Southerners didn’t attend except Peter Gadet and the likes who learned that fighting corruption is only through the barrel of a gun? What did Peter Gadet fail to get in the SPLA or Juba when he came back in 2006?
Khartoum, Peter Gadet and the likes have already embarked on proving their ignorance to the whole world. Their political, military or militia calculator is made in Khartoum but ours is a collection of thoughts from various technological disciplines. That’s why SPLM/SPLA keeps proving them wrong.
SPLM/SPLA has been and will always win so long as Khartoum, Peter Gadet and the likes attempt to maintain their provocative attitude politically or militarily. Celebrations of our hard-won freedom and peace can never ever be interrupted by ignorant militia Generals. Khartoum has repeatedly proved its ignorance by providing breeding ground for Southern traitors since 1983 when the civil war started. It’s not gonna happen anymore after July 9, 2011.
Paul Ongee
Khartoum Watch
Garang
How to defeat South Sudan militias?
Better to live under the corrupt government of educated Salva-Riek than a government of illetrate and semi illetrate Gadet and Athor respectively.As once said by a wise General, educated intelligint enemy is far better than an illetrate fool.