South Sudan executes rebels deported from Sudan: sources
August 8, 2022 (JUBA) – South Sudan on Monday executed rebel officers who were forcefully deported by authorities in Sudan, according to a video and pictures Sudan Tribune obtained after the execution.
Sudanese authorities on Sunday handed over rebel officers arrested in Al-Fula town in West Kordofan State.
The three officers were identified as Major Gen. Nyuon Garang, Major Gen. Pur Ruop Kuol, and Brig. Gen. Gatluak Majok were reportedly transported by road through Heglig and handed over to Unity State governor, Joseph Nguen Monytuil on Monday morning.
“Monytuil immediately ordered the execution”, relatives and multiple sources told Sudan Tribune Monday.
Sudan and South Sudanese have remained tight-lipped over the matter.
The governor of Unity State neither picked up nor returned our phone calls.
Meanwhile, Stephen Buoy Rolnyang, the leader of the rebel South Sudan People’s Movement/Army (SSPM/A) confirmed the execution of the officers, saying the act violates humanitarian and international laws.
“It is true we have lost our colleagues. The authorities in Sudan as we reported yesterday in our release arrested and drove through Heglig our colleagues and handed them over to Joseph Nguen Manytuil, the governor of Unity State. The latter was on phone with Presidential Adviser Tut Gatluak Manime, who was coordinating the arrest and deportation with the Sudanese authorities”, said Rolnyang.
“They were arrested in Al- Fula where they were visiting family members by members of Sudan’s Rapid Support Force, put into a vehicle and handed over to Joseph Nguen who waiting for them at the border,” he added.
The three officers, Rolnyang said, were executed at Kaikang in Unity State.
He wondered why the unarmed officers were not taken to the country’s capital, Juba for legal processes to be followed and the nature of crimes determined.
He said that their execution was expected once they were given to the Unity State governor.
“They are vengeful. Blame the Sudanese [and] no one else,” he emphasized.
Blaming Sudan
The rebel leader expressed disappointment over Khartoum’s move, saying many rebel groups exist in Sudan and South Sudan, yet neither country had ever arrested and handed over officers to be summarily executed.
“Just look here, we do not understand why the Sudanese authorities acted that way. There are many south Sudanese rebels in Khartoum as we talk and they have not been arrested and handed over”, stressed Rolnyang.
The head of information in Mayom County, Wuor Keah said Monday that more than 17 rebel fighters, including their leaders, were captured during fighting and have been put in detention centres in the state capital, Bentiu.
He named Brig. Gen. Gatluak Majok, Major Gen. Nyuon Garang and Pur Ruop Kuol, among others captured by the authorities.
Keah did not, however, say whether the captured officers were executed or not.
“I am in Mayom and I do not what happened in Bentiu. I just heard of the fighting and capture of more than 17 fighters including their leaders whose names I told you. This is all I know. The people in Bentiu may be the ones to give you more details”, he explained.
The officers arrested in Sudan and handed over to South Sudan were part of a new rebel group formed in May 2021.
(ST)