Forces of rebel-general, George Athor rejoins southern army – SPLA

November 9, 2010 (JUBA) – The forces loyal to the former Deputy Chief of General Staff of south Sudan’s army – the Sudan People’s Liberation Army – have begun the process of rejoining the SPLA five months after their rebellion began.

Lt. Gen. George Athor Deng rebelled in May this year following the announcement of gubernatorial election results in Jonglei state, which he lost as independent candidate, but blamed it on rigging by the south’s ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM).

Last month, the President of the Government of Southern Sudan, Salva Kiir Mayardit, issued an executive order pardoning all members of south Sudan’s Other Armed Groups (OAGs) and recently rebelled SPLA officers and civilians who took up arms to join or rejoin the SPLA, promising that they would not face prosecution.

Long time SPLA rival, Major General Gabriel Tanginye became the first senior commander of an anti-SPLA OAG to respond to the amnesty arriving in Juba with a number of other senior officers in early October.

During most of the SPLA’s 22 year war against successive Khartoum governments Tanginye aligned his forces with Sudan Armed Forces controlled by the central government.

Under the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement the SPLA and SAF became the only legal armed groups in the south. All other armed groups were given the choice of joining one of the two legal armies or putting down their weapons.

At the time Tinganye chose not to do either and in incidents in 2006 and 2008 was accused of causing violence in Malakal town, capital of Upper Nile state, resulting in the deaths of over 300 people.

Last week upon joining the SPLA, Tinganye said his group was ready to leave behind all past differences and focus on January’s referendum, which may see the south become and independent country.

President Kiir is attempting to unite the south politically and militarily ahead of the referendum.

Athor did not attend a recent conference of southern Sudan’s political groups, instead sending three of his officials to represent him.

However, in statement to the media on Monday, the Governor of Jonglei state, Kuol Manyang Juuk, confirmed that forces of Gen. Athor had now begun to rejoin the SPLA forces in Jonglei state.

Juuk who was Athor’s rival during the elections, said the forces were moving to rejoin SPLA Division Eight in charge of Jonglei state, which is currently under the command of Major General Peter Bol Kong.

Athor was one of three dissidents formerly associated with the SPLA or local politicians who launched armed insurgencies after suffering defeats in April’s elections.

(ST)