Khartoum distances itself from new dissidences in South Sudan army
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March 28, 2011 (KHARTOUM) — Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) denied any links
with the new insurgencies in southern Sudan army, Sudan People’s
Liberation Army (SPLA), and dismissed reports that Maj. Gen. Peter
Gadet is present in Khartoum.
JPEG - 49.1 kb
FILE - A handout picture released by the United Nations Mission in
Sudan (UNMIS) shows SPLA (Sudan People’s Liberation Army) Major
General Peter Gadet (L) addressing his troops prior to their
withdrawal from Abyei on July 2, 2008 in line with the "Road Map" to
resolve the Abyei crisis (AFP)
The statements come as the SPLA spokesperson admitted that the
influential Peter Gadet has rebelled "individually" without followers
on his side.
On Sunday SPLA spokesperson told Sudan Tribune that the dissident
general received official permission to visit Nairobi but had instead
traveled to Sudan’s capital. He said they do not know what caused his
change of itinerary and believe he is still in Khartoum.
Gadet joined the SPLA after Juba Declaration signed on 8 January 2006
between Salva Kiir and Paulino Matip the leader of the South Sudan
Defence Forces (SSDF). Matip was named Deputy Commander-in-Chief of
the South Sudan army and more than 50,000 of his forces were
integrated into the SPLA and other organized forces.
Only the SPLA is concerned with the disappearance of Maj. Gen. Peter
Gadet stated SAF spokesperson Al-Sawarmi Khaled who added that the
southern general did not join the northern Sudanese army.
He further denied his presence in Khartoum saying any accusation form
the SPLA that he is harbored by SAF is unfounded. However the Sudanese
intelligence sponsored news service SMC reported that Gadet moved to
Unity state to organize his troops.
The unity of the biggest militia army with the SPLA suffered many
troubles in the past but the joint will of the two leaders preserved
their agreement. However, Paulino Matip accused several times his
allies of working to weaken his authority and marginalize the role of
the SSDF leadership in the southern Sudan army.
Abdel Bagi Ayii, a former adviser of the Southern Sudan government
president rebelled earlier this month and accused Juba of corruption
and nepotism. He also claimed that Muslims suffer discrimination in
the South.
Sources close to Peter Gadet told Sudan tribune that Gadet is
preparing a statement to explain the reasons of his defection. It
further said that corruption and tribalism would be cited among his
grievances.
The sources further said Paulino Matip met Salva Kiir in Juba before
leaving to Nairobi on Sunday for medical check-up. The former told the
latter he is unaware the reasons of Gadet’s insurgency but emphasized
on the need to make reforms.
Reports from Juba also mention the defection of two other generals
Major Gen. Peter Yaka and Brig. Karlo Kuol Ruai.
Another rebellion is rumored in Eastern Equatoria state where a
deserting officer only currently known by his first name as Lorot, was
reported to have clashed with SPLA forces recently, and blamed for
killing of six soldiers. If the rumor is confirmed the incidence will
make Eastern Equatoria one of the five states in the region hosting
rebellious forces after Jonglei, Upper Nile, Unity and Northern Bahr
el Ghazal.
The new dissidents join a long list of former SPLA officers and
militia leaders who defected since last year. The ex-generals of the
southern Sudan army accuse the SPLM of manipulating the results of the
vote, but the former militia leaders claim that they are marginalized
and not fairly treated.
Fears are growing that coordinated action of these rebel groups will
destabilize Juba government and tarnish its image before the
proclamation of the independence within three months.
As the regional government is preparing to send out invitations to
various heads of states around the world to come to Juba for the
announcement of independence, there are already fears of uncertainty
about what the security situation will look like during July and
whether or not it would affect the process and participation of the
invitees.
Officials in South Sudan are also concerned that the fight against the
rebels may slip into tribal wars in the region where there is always
little chance to successfully separate the individual rebels or
militias from communities they hail from as well as separate heads of
decision-making authorities from misinterpreting their decisions as
representative of their respective communities.
(ST)
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