S. Sudanese rebel group claim ex-coalition partner is agent of Juba
By Toby Collins
February 26, 2012 (LONDON) – A South Sudanese rebel group is calling for the capture of the leader of one of their former coalition members, accusing him of operating as an agent of Juba.
Sudan Tribune received a series of messages from the SSPLA/M email address, attributed to Ayat and the SSPLA/M information officer, Deng Deng, claiming that they were involved in an arms deal with members of the Iranian embassy, brokered by Khartoum. This contradicts communication attributed to Ayat in December 2011, claiming he had “no any connection with Khartoum nor near Khartoum. I only have support with in the SPLA and other political parties” [sic].
The SSLA/M is a rebel group which opposes the rule of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM). It has carried out a series of attacks, predominantly in Upper Nile and Unity states. The spokesperson for the South Sudanese Army, the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) has described the SSLA/M as a “northern militia” and South Sudan’s minister for information has accused Khartoum of directing South Sudanese rebel groups and orchestrating kidnappings to source troops.
Although it is in Juba’s interest to attribute domestic dissent to Khartoum’s meddling, there is also some evidence to support the claim. A Small Arms Survey report published in 2011 found that that there was “strong circumstantial evidence” that South Sudan rebels had received logistical and material support “from Khartoum and other external sources”.
Less is know about the SSLA/M’s former partners, the SSPLA/M.
After the release of the SSLA/M statement declaring their intent to “bring to justice” to the “agent of the government of Juba” on 26 February 2012 Ayat told Sudan Tribune that the previous emails were sent from his address by an “unknown person”. Ayat also claims that the accusations laid against him are tribally motivated, the SSLA/M being a predominantly from the Nuer group whereas Ayat, like many of the politicians in Juba, is Dinka.
The statement was released on 25 February, two days after Sudan Tribune asked if the SSLA/M thought it possible that Juba had a hand in Ayat’s counter-intuitive claims.
A source with access to South Sudanese rebels spoke to who he was told was Ayayt on 20 February 2012. Ayat reiterated the claims purporting to come from Deng; that the SSPLA/M had recently received a shipment of Iranian arms, brokered by Khartoum’s National Congress Party (NCP). However, Ayat’s identity was not independently verified.
On the 15 February 2012 someone purporting to be Deng, informed Sudan Tribune that it had received a shipment of arms; including tanks, ballistic missiles and light weapons, from Iran, in preparation for an attack on Juba.
Deng claimed that Ayat was approached by Javad Torkabad, the Iranian ambassador in Khartoum, in January 2010, and a meeting was scheduled to be held in Ayat’s Omdurman office in February 2010.
This meeting in February, the email claimed, was attended by members of the NCP, the Iranian Embassy, religious leaders and the SSPLA/M leadership. Attempts to contact the individuals alleged to have attended the meeting and the Iranian embassy in Khartoum failed.
The email also claimed Torkabad gave Ayat US$20,000 for a trip to Tehran, scheduled for April 2010. The trip did not happen because Ayat came to the conclusion that the trip would cause the people of South Sudan to “hate him forever” as it came on the eve of the referendum on independence. Why February 2012 would be considered an appropriate time to collude with Khartoum, is not clear.
On the 17 February Sudan Tribune received an email claiming that the SSPLA/M had tanks 60km from Renk, Upper Nile and were preparing for a joint attack with the SSLA/M.
Bapiny Monytuil, the SSLA/M’s deputy commander told Sudan Tribune on 22 February that the SSLPA/M’s claims were unfounded.
On 23 February Monytuil told Sudan Tribune the SSLA/M has ended its coalition with the SSPLA/M after their leadership did not turn up to a meeting in Mayom, Unity state. The coalition was formed after the revision of the SSPLA/M’s original manifesto, which was incompatible with that of the SSLA/M. The SSLM/A retains its coalition with the South Sudan Democratic Army/Movement, the South Sudan Defence Force and the National Democratic Front.
The SSPLA/M’s December 2011 manifesto stated that they were fighting for a unified Sudan, with the people of South Sudan once again governed by Khartoum.
The SSLA/M responded to its issuance by giving Ayat “one week to change his Manifesto if he wants to work with other South Sudan rebels. If he doesn’t change his stance, then, we will not work with him”.
On 1 January 2012 the SSPLA/M released a statement retracting their previous demands for a unified Sudan.
From 1986 – 2009 Ayat was a member of the SPLA, the former rebel movement, the political wing of which now rules South Sudan. He then formed the United Democratic Party, for which he claims he was illegally detained by the SPLM.
Ayat began the SSPLA/M’s rebellion after the UDP was not included in South Sudan’s post-independence parliament.
(ST)