S. Sudan should be governed by Khartoum, new rebels say
December 29, 2011 (LONDON) – A new South Sudanese rebel movement, the South Sudan People Liberation Army / Movement (SSPLA/M) issued its manifesto on Wednesday, calling for South Sudan to be governed from Khartoum, as it was before secession on 9 July 2011.
The SSPLA manifesto calls for the establishment of a “United Sudan base on confederal system” [sic]. The vision bares some similarity to the vision articulated by the late leader of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) former leader, John Garang.
The SPLA fought over two decades of war with Khartoum until the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement, which gave South Sudan the option to secede. The SPLA are now the army of independent South Sudan.
The manifesto describes South Sudan’s secession as “not be viable, insecure and non productive”.
However, on 9 December, while still head of the United Democratic Party (UDP), Ayat told Sudan Tribune “Our people have suffered for a very long time in support of unity. So, let them try another option to see how it will work.”
Chairman of SSPLM/SSPLA, Tong Lual Ayat, told Sudan Tribune on Wednesday how in 1986 he joined the former SPLA rebels, the political wing of which, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) now rules South Sudan.
After the death of Garang, in 2005 Ayat became disillusioned with the rebellion and in 2009 formed the UDP for which, he claims, he was detained for six weeks by the SPLM.
Ayat claims the SSPLA has 5,000 soldiers and will have 10,000 within a month, with which they will conduct operation Rescue South Sudan from Oppressors – a cooperative military offensive with other South Sudan rebel groups, against Juba “within a month”.
Other South Sudanese rebel movements, such as the South Sudan Liberation Army / Movement (SSLA/M) oppose the government in South Sudan – a nation which achieved statehood not yet five months ago. However the SSLA/M has not suggested Juba seceded power to Khartoum. It is not known how these potentially conflicting agendas within a union of rebellions will be resolved.
The SPLA spokesperson, Philip Aguer, has claimed that the SSLA/M are Khartoum’s mercenaries, an allegation the rebels deny. The SPLA claim is supported by the findings of a Small Arms Survey investigation published in October.
The SSPLA intends to establish bases in Meram, South Kordofan; Renk, Unity; Maban, Upper Nile and to “wage a protracted armed struggle”.
Despite 98 percent of South Sudanese voting in favour of secession, the SSPLA make the claim that rule from Khartoum “will not be objected or opposed by the citizens of South Sudan because a it is the creation of the jobs for those who are yawing or eyeing for positions.“ [sic]
Ayat said he had established the SSPLM/A in Renk, Upper Nile State, South Sudan on Wednesday. He said his group fights to establish United Sudan base on federal system where the Central government will be in Khartoum with representations from all the regions.
He called on all rebel groups to coordinate and work together and choose central command under one rebel leader assisted by secretaries of the various rebels in order to change the Juba regime.
“We are fighting to establish federal system in the Sudan where by the central government shall be in Khartoum with all cabinet and legislature in the national capital Khartoum as a symbol of unity of the country”, the statement says.
The new rebel leader claimed “many citizens are actually regretting for voting in favor of separation.”
In South Sudan, he said, people feel that the current situation will deteriorate if new leadership is not installed.
“The current leadership under the SPLM should be removed. South Sudanese are fed up with the corruption”, he adds claiming further that all citizens of South Sudan are eager to see the Juba government toppled as soon as possible.
He accused the government of what he described as “sustained” marginalisation of political parties and civil society, failure to adopt a viable political road map which can galvanise and reward the Southern people for their victorious achievement of a just peace.
Ayat also pointed to corruption, neglect of the families of the war dead, rigging of elections and failure to deliver basic services as other reasons for his rebellion.
The UDP was one of the parties left out when the cabinet of an independent State was formed this year.
(ST)