South Sudan Vice- President rebukes rebellions amid transition to statehood
March 26, 2011 (JUBA) – The Vice President of the semi-autonomous region of South Sudan, which will proclaim its full independence from the rest of Sudan on July 9, has rebuked the increasing rebellions amid founding of the new nation.
Following the peaceful and orderly conduct of self-determination’s referendum in January this year which resulted to overwhelming vote for secession after ending 55 years of struggle in 2005, the region has witnessed increasing number of rebellions after announcement of the result.
Vice President Riek Machar said it was unfortunate and a bad sign that the region has been faced with rebellions during its transition into statehood. He recalled a similar situation in which the Sudan as a state was founded in January 1956, as some groups in the South was launched a rebellion in August 1955 months before proclamation of independence. He said this had to drag on for the next 55 years and has now ended in the break up of the state in 2011.
Most of the rebellions declared by individual army officers and former militias since last year came in the aftermath of April 2010 general elections and can be described as political.
The most recent rebellion announced last week by Major Gen. Abdel-Bagi Ayii Akol, the former advisor to South Sudan President, Salva Kiir.
In an interview with the Khartoum-based, Sudan Media Center, last week Ayii said 3,000 SPLA soldiers had defected to join his ranks, a few days after he announced the launch of his rebellion against the regional government, accusing president Kiir of refusing to listen to him on issues he claimed pertinent to building peace and development for the government and for people of South Sudan. He also demands 30 percent representation for Muslims in the government cabinet.
However, SPLA spokesperson, Colonel Phillip Aguer Panyang, in statements to Sudan Tribune, from Juba, on Thursday categorically dismissed Abdel-Bagi’s allegations saying the latter was lying and that none of the South Sudan army’s troops had defected.
South Sudan officials have repeatedly accused the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) in the north for creating and arming these groups in order to destabilize the region. NCP officials have denied the accusations, saying the insecurities were a result of the region’s failure to manage its own affairs.
One of the main rebellious groups is that of Gen. George Athor Deng; a former deputy Chief of General Staff in South Sudan army. He rebelled in May last year after losing gubernatorial elections in Jonglei state. Others include David Yauyau’s armed group in Jonglei, Gatluak Gai, in Unity, Oliny in Upper Nile and Maj. General Abdel-Bagi Ayii Akol from Northern Bahr el Ghazal.
After efforts to resolve the conflicts peacefully failed, the government’s forces and the different rebel groups have clashed several times for the last two months in Jonglei, Unity and Upper Nile states.
However, officials are concerned about reports indicating that some local authorities and fighting forces on the ground might have misinterpreted the conflict and targeted innocent communities from which individual rebels come from.
During a meeting with the Vice President, a delegation of senior government leaders from the Shilluk community, led by the presidential advisor, Tijuok Aguek and minister of Investment, Oyai Deng Ajak, raised this concern to the southern leadership.
They said some elements in the fighting forces in Upper Nile state have been trying to target the Shilluk community in general just because Oliny who recently rebelled and attacked the state capital, Malakal, comes from the Shilluk ethnic group.
They appealed to the leadership to enlighten the local authorities and the fighting forces that the rebels did not represent the communities they came from and should therefore be dealt with as individual groups.
Various rebellious groups against the government have been formed by leaders from different ethnic groups in the South with some claiming state-based changes while others seeking to make the claims against the regional government as a whole.
(ST)
Historical Boy!
South Sudan Vice- President rebukes rebellions amid transition to statehood
The leadership should work hard to peacefully neutralize such rebellions before July 9.
Soldiers must not target Shilluk community as a whole.
Bol Deng
South Sudan Vice- President rebukes rebellions amid transition to statehood
The reporter did not mention how the VP rebuk the rebellions in the South rather than just floating.We all know SPLM-DC and Militia from Tanganyiye and the rest of Naath in the SAF are looking for a position through targeting shilluk civilians but they will not get anything. 1983 war(SPLM/A war) was a real war that brought this CPA of our new nation.
Bol Deng
South Sudan Vice- President rebukes rebellions amid transition to statehood
Read this article in quotation
“Latest challenge for South Sudan: Armed internal rebellion
By ALAN BOSWELL
McClatchy Newspapers
KHARTOUM, Sudan — After weeks of scattered clashes that left hundreds dead, rebel militias in Southern Sudan have united in a new armed movement against the young southern government, raising the prospect of civil war even before South Sudan declares independence in July.
“We have formed a new group. It is called the Southern Sudan Democratic Movement. We are calling the army the Southern Sudan Army,” said renegade general George Athor, who is heading the rebel command, speaking earlier this week by satellite phone from an undisclosed location.
The new coalition formally brings together five different armed militias spanning four of South Sudan’s 10 states, said the rebel leader. General Bapiny Monituel, who leads one of the five factions and whose forces have clashed heavily with the southern military in the past days, confirmed the emergence of the umbrella movement under Athor during an interview with McClatchy in the northern capital Khartoum.
The formation of the new rebel coalition confirms fears that the spreading patchwork of miniature insurgencies would coalesce under a single coordinated campaign against the southern military, posing an existential threat to the world’s newest nation before it even officially comes on the scene.
The United States and other Western countries had pushed hard for Southern Sudan’s January referendum on independence to proceed as promised, hoping the nation’s partition would bring a final chapter to decades of war that has left Southern Sudan one of the least developed places in the world, with 2 million dead.
Now it appears that the U.S.-backed peace process may succeed in ending the south’s longstanding war against Sudan’s northern government, but in the process will spin off an extremely fragile state wrought with violent internal divisions of its own.
The real strength of the new rebellion is still not known, but momentum is on its side. Defections from within the southern military are increasing almost daily, and the militias are gaining manpower on the ground as a series of messy military offensives by the southern army – the Sudan People’s Liberation Army – has failed to deal a decisive blow.
So far, the southern government’s main response to the rebellion has been to accuse the northern government of arming the dissidents, just like old times.
“This (new rebel movement) will not be a new thing for us because we already know that they are being coordinated by the military intelligence in Khartoum,” said Philip Aguer, the SPLA spokesman. Athor called these accusations of northern support “big lies.” Monituel also dismissed the claim, saying he only has enough guns for 3,000 of his 5,000 men and lacks even a vehicle on the ground.
Earlier this month, senior southern Cabinet member Pagan Amum released internal northern military documents alleging that Athor was receiving arms from the north last year. But a number of independent experts have dismissed the documents as poor forgeries.
The disparate renegade commanders have many differences, but they seem united by a list of local and tribal grievances about the current southern leadership. These grievances date back to the previous war, when the SPLA – then the main southern group fighting against the northern government – fractured largely along tribal lines.
Then, the splinter commanders formed competing movements, but most ended up covertly aligning with the northern government to receive arms to fight the main SPLA force. In exchange, the breakaway factions helped clear their area for oil exploration.
After the 2005 peace deal between the SPLA and the northern government, which established regional self-rule leading up to this year’s referendum, many chose to reintegrate into the SPLA, but others chose to join the northern military instead.
Monituel was one of the latter.
“It’s better to be with the north than (with) a Dinka, because I know we cannot stay together with Dinka men for more than five days,” he gave as an explanation for his decision at his home on the outskirts of Khartoum, where his six years on a general’s salary could explain the new shiny Hummer parked outside.
His comments underscored the deep tribal bitterness fueling the individual power plays.
Monituel is a Nuer, Nilotic rivals closely related to the Dinka, Southern Sudan’s dominant ethnic group. The Nuer comprised the majority of the breakaway fighters during the war, but many have since reconciled with the SPLA, whose founder and current leader is a Dinka.
Athor, a Dinka, lives on Nuer land, and most of his fighters are Nuer. Two other factions in the new rebel movement are from other marginalized tribal minorities, the Shilluk and the Murle.
According to James Kuong Ninrew, a Presbyterian pastor who heads the Nuer Peace Council, which works on conflict resolution and reconciliation, the rebellions do not currently have the broad support of community leaders on the ground, but he warned that the heavy-handed response risks worsening the situation.
“If they (the SPLA) don’t handle this well, it will end up as tribal kind of clashes. And once it becomes tribal, people will join without knowing exactly what’s the cause,” said Ninrew.
He blamed the SPLA for failing to seriously pursue peaceful integration of the militias into the army.
“They (the SPLA) are not ready to absorb all of them,” said Ninrew.
Athor – a former deputy chief of staff of the SPLA who rebelled after losing a gubernatorial race late last year, and who is believed to maintain strong connections and some inside support from within the SPLA – said he is ready to talk with the government.
“We are willing to negotiate very much, but I don’t think they will accept. The SPLA only knows the sound of bullets,” said Athor.
His demands include inclusion in the new constitutional review, representation in an interim government until new elections can be held, and integration of his forces into the SPLA.
Monituel said he sent his troops south in order to integrate into the SPLA, but now he is not interested after the SPLA instead attacked his positions. In the three days of ensuing fighting, the SPLA is believed to have suffered heavy losses, and his men held their ground.
Now, the emboldened warlord says he is preparing for war.
“They wanted to attack us. Now there is no solution except fighting,” he said.”
Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/03/…
Dinkanuer
South Sudan Vice- President rebukes rebellions amid transition to statehood
What is your solution as the vice and the member of Goss? Who are you reporting to? Riek you have been behind every messes that going on there but God is watching you very closely. If you don’t changed you will be regret, go a head and do what you like!
For those who are still using Ngundeng ideologies, please be inform! Ngundeng had shameful things to be said about him. First,
He was not a Prophet but a profit to his royalist in Nuer.
He had many names according to his activities in many parts of South Sudan.
He was a Cannibal animal according to Nuer man who doesn’t need to be mentioned
His first name was Ngundeng-meaning that he was send by God.
After he gone wild and ran away.
His name changed to be Gatluakmanguel in Nuer dialect.
He ate many Nuer men and women in Nuer Land
Dinka. His name was Manyang e Juet.
He ate many children, animal claviers and cows’s bulls in Dinka Land.
Equatoria with different languages including English and Arabic
His name was Tiger
The Nuer man who refused to be target by Ngundeng’s salves pointed out that. Ngundeng had no father or mother but the Devil who came out in the River Nile in a form of fish, when the Nuer boys want for fishing. They fish for so many hours and they caught nothing, when the boys get tied and ready to go back home. One of them told other guys that there was a fish ate his hook lastly, the boy convinced other friends to tried one more time! Shortly after he putted on snail body on the hook, he had thrown it into Nile River. Immediately, Ngundeng was caught. The boy was attempting to pull the Fish Ngundeng out in the river but it was difficult for him to do so, then he called his associates to pull Ngundeng on the shore. They brought it out and they were smile some of them were told to go and collect firewood in order for the young men to roast their fish.
Unfortunately! The Fish Ngundeng changed into big snake! And the boys ran away from it, the boys thought that they were dreaming and they came back for the second times. The Snake Ngundeng light it body and become bright as well as electricity light. They ran home and they spread the news to the community, when the Nuer elders came to the place where Ngundeng was pulled. It was still there as snake with it light. People gather together around it and started asking question how did this happen? The Snake Ngundeng changed into human being and told people not to run away. All of them were shocking and scary to death except Human Ngundeng who perform such witchcraft. things “Come down, come down now!” The Human Ngundeng said. Who are you? The Nuer elders asked him. I am Nyajok_ which mean woman devil! The Human Ngundeng answer! She knew her own physical appearance as she is a hermaphrodite. (A person with both the organs of a man and a woman) Wow! Brothers and sisters of Nuer I am sorry for your Profit. Nyajok Ngundeng was not a Prohet? It was your profit to cheat people for his power but It was not a Prophet? It was a Satan?
Cie liel du dem e mac!
By Dinkanuer!
Jeti
South Sudan Vice- President rebukes rebellions amid transition to statehood
Equatoria Observer, idiot! Please do not brag of being a cleaner around the ministries. What are you observing now in Equatoria when you allowed your mums and sisters being sexually by the arabs? In South Sudan, do not mention anything to do with hatred. What I know is, Nuer do not hate Dinka and Dinka do not hate Nuer. They love themselves, but when you mention the word ‘hatred’ then the feeling of hatred comes into their minds. Warning! Never and never again, insane observer.
Dinkanuer
South Sudan Vice- President rebukes rebellions amid transition to statehood
(Son of great Equatoria and Equatoria observer)
I have something for you! Are you the victims of the Arab militaries molested boys in the South? Please be advice! If you have been sexually abused, then you need counselors right away. Your immorality and arrogant of being so such witches of Great Equatoria without depending it during the war will lead you to hell!
You keep pointing your damn fingers on Dinkas instead of your greedy monkey uncle Joseph Lagu. Who had sold Southern Sudanese’s right to Arab for only one pussy that couldn’t benefit anybody in the South, that why we are still suffering here. Joseph and these of Riek and Lam Akol will be hold accountable for their erroneous.
For those who are still using Ngundeng ideologies, please be inform! Ngundeng had shameful things to be said about him. First,
He was not a Prophet but a profit to his royalist in Nuer.
He had many names according to his activities in many parts of South Sudan.
He was a Cannibal animal according to Nuer man who doesn’t need to be mentioned
His first name was Ngundeng-meaning that he was send by God.
After he gone wild and ran away.
His name changed to be Gatluakmanguel in Nuer dialect.
He ate many Nuer men and women in Nuer Land
Dinka. His name was Manyang e Juet.
He ate many children, animal claviers and cows’s bulls in Dinka Land.
Equatoria with different languages including English and Arabic
His name was Tiger
The Nuer man who refused to be target by Ngundeng’s salves pointed out that. Ngundeng had no father or mother but the Devil who came out in the River Nile in a form of fish, when the Nuer boys want for fishing. They fish for so many hours and they caught nothing, when the boys get tied and ready to go back home. One of them told other guys that there was a fish ate his hook lastly, the boy convinced other friends to tried one more time! Shortly after he putted on snail body on the hook, he had thrown it into Nile River. Immediately, Ngundeng was caught. The boy was attempting to pull the Fish Ngundeng out in the river but it was difficult for him to do so, then he called his associates to pull Ngundeng on the shore. They brought it out and they were smile some of them were told to go and collect firewood in order for the young men to roast their fish.
Unfortunately! The Fish Ngundeng changed into big snake! And the boys ran away from it, the boys thought that they were dreaming and they came back for the second times. The Snake Ngundeng light it body and become bright as well as electricity light. They ran home and they spread the news to the community, when the Nuer elders came to the place where Ngundeng was pulled. It was still there as snake with it light. People gather together around it and started asking question how did this happen? The Snake Ngundeng changed into human being and told people not to run away. All of them were shocking and scary to death except Human Ngundeng who perform such witchcraft. things “Come down, come down now!” The Human Ngundeng said. Who are you? The Nuer elders asked him. I am Nyajok_ which mean woman devil! The Human Ngundeng answer! She knew her own physical appearance as she is a hermaphrodite. (A person with both the organs of a man and a woman) Wow! Brothers and sisters of Nuer I am sorry for your Profit. Nyajok Ngundeng was not a Prohet? It was your profit to cheat people for his power but It was not a Prophet? It was a Satan?
Cie liel du dem e mac!
By Dinkanuer!
Historical Boy!
South Sudan Vice- President rebukes rebellions amid transition to statehood
Why are Dinka soldiers turning the war tribal and targetting innocent civilians of Shilluk community?
Firecracker
South Sudan Vice- President rebukes rebellions amid transition to statehood
The title is very deceiving! There is nowhere in the article that Dr. Machar is directly quoted as having disapproved of the rebellion. This is another cheap politics propagated by Machar’s cohorts. Unfortunately, some of you here have fallen for it. In journalism direct quotations are very essential in authenticating the subject matter.