South Sudan says none of its soldiers joined former presidential adviser
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March 24, 2011 (AGOK) - The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLA)
on Thursday denied that any of its soldiers had defected to the ex-
presidential advisor on traditional affairs, Abdul Bagi Ayii Akol
Agany, who announced from Khartoum the launch his rebellion against
the Juba based Government of South Sudan (GoSS) on 10 March 2011.
JPEG - 10.7 kb
SPLA Spokesperson Philip Aguer (ST)
In an interview with the Khartoum-based, Sudan Media Center, last week
Ayii said 3,000 SPLA soldiers 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 troops had defected.
"No single SPLA soldier has gone with him. What he said was a pure
lie. How can an SPLA soldier who fought against the government that
killed his own people follow someone like Abdel Bagi Ayii, who has
been living a militia life for all his age?" said Colonel Aguer.
"He is lying. Nobody has gone with him from the Dinka Malual. What I
know is that Khartoum is recruiting for him from Murrahaleen and
former child soldiers in Khartoum", he added.
The Murrahaleen are armed bands on Rizeiqat and Misseriya from South
Darfur and South Kordofan. They fought against the SPLA during the
years of civil war and were accused of committing atrocities against
southerners civilians in South Sudan.
"He did not go with anybody. I am even told none of his sons accepted
to follow him. They [his sons] even attempted persuading him to change
his mind before he could announce his rebellion last week in
Khartoum", emphasized the SPLA officer.
Ayii was one of the leaders of the armed groups from the south which
fought against the former rebel movement, SPLM/A, as a pro-government
militia, in areas adjacent to former SPLM/A liberated areas in the
south during more than two decades of North-South civil war.
Based in the border town of Merem, previously in Western Kordofan
state, now part of South Kordofan in central Sudan, armed groups loyal
to him were accused of collaborating with the pro-government militias
"Popular Defense Forces" to attack civilians in southern villages from
his home state of Northern Bahr el Ghazal during the war. His forces
were also accused of participating in abducting children and women.
After the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) between the SPLM
and the National Congress Party (NCP), Abdel-Bagi became part of GoSS,
following the inking of the 2006 Juba Declaration which saw armed
groups integrated into the SPLA.
He was named presidential advisor on border and traditional affairs in
2007. However, in June 2010, the president of GoSS, Salva Kiir
Mayardit, excluded him from his new cabinet following reports of
political differences over nomination procedures for candidates
contesting various positions in the last general elections conducted
in April 2010 for Northern Bahr el Ghazal.
(ST)
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