Sudan SSDF militia denies merger with the SPLA – Kong
Jan 14, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — South Sudan Defence Forces militia, led by Maj. Gen. Gordon Kong, has announced its support and the integration of its troops in the Sudanese Armed Forces.
The leader of the South Sudan Defence Force (SSDF), Maj. Gen Paulino Matip has announced 8 January that his militia will join the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), formerly a rebel group and now a partner in Sudan’s national unity government.
Under the agreement, called the Juba Declaration of Unity and Integration, the armed forces of the two groups will merge, reducing the number of disparate armed groups in the south that have caused much insecurity.
But the official SUNA news agency reported that. Kong has denied the claim of Paulino Matip on the absorption of South Sudan Defence Forces (SSDF) in the army of Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM).
Kong has affirmed their stance to be part of the Armed Forces.
He stressed that SSDF is committed to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and ready to cooperate with South Sudan Government, which is headed by the First Vice – President, Salva Kiir, toward prevalence of peace and stability in south Sudan.
He congratulated the Sudanese people on the first anniversary for the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.
Meanwhile, the Commander of Sudan Defence Forces for Bahral-Ghazal States, Maj. Gen. al-Toam al-Nur Daldoum, said that 6,000 troops and 900 officers of SSDF have been absorbed in the Armed Forces.
He explained that SSDF did not take part in Nairobi Conference of the Southern Factions, because the SPLM has refused their agenda, which included the call for participation in power for at least three southern states and absorption of at least 6.000 of SSDF in the Police forces in south Sudan.
Gordon Kong is a Jikany Nuer, he was a militia leader of Thourjikany Forces, based in Nasir, eastern Upper Nile with Jikany Nuer troops. Then he became Major-general in Anya Nya II in 1988, then became commander in SPLM/A, and member of the SPLM/A political-military high command. In 1991 he led breakaway from SPLM/A with Riek Machar and Lam Akol. In 1997, he signed the Khartoum peace agreement with the government, when he was made a commander with the South Sudan Defence Forces (SSDF) under Riek Machar. Since 1998, backed directly by the government.
(ST)