White Army: "A Sword Of Damocles" In The Side Of South Sudan's Sovereignty.
"...with fresh grievances of the December 15th in mind, disarming
communities neighbouring White Army's territories would be a difficult task
to accomplish since White Army has demonstrated its villain and capability
of defeating even a formidable National Army."
06 February 2014
By Morris K. Yoll
After December 15th Juba incident, participation of White Army elements in
the coup attempt and now rebellion against government, highlights concerns
in minds of many South Sudanese regarding effects of White army involvement
in South Sudan's Nation Building, National Politics, co-existence between
Lou Nuer community, as a recruiting base for *White Army* with its
neighbouring, none Nuer, communities.
According to the Small Arms Survey, the White Army, a Lou Gawaar Nuer based
militia, derived it names from smears of white ashes from burned cattle
dung that protect their bodies' from insects' bites. The mushrooming of
tribal based militias, including unorganized militias intended to protect
villages, lives, cattle and grazing lands, became common practice in South
Sudan and is attributed as a work of the Sudanese governments in Khartoum
during the civil war started in 1980s. However, the naming of the White
Army and its development dated as of recent in 90s and 00s.
Various Sudanese regimes, starting in 1983, organized tribal militias
inside Southern Sudan as counterinsurgency forces to combat rebellion in
Southern Sudan. In particular, President Nimerei exploited conflict
between Dr. John Garang's faction and Akwot Atem, William Abdallah Cuol,
and Gai Tut's Anyanya II faction to create "Friendly Force militia" in the
Upper Nile Region that was predominantly Nuers [from Bul Nuer, Jikany Nuer,
Gaajak Nuer] loyal to the Sudanese regime in late 1984.
After defeat of "Friendly Force," the White Army militias evolved and
developed from anarchy of organized counterinsurgencies forces of 80s and
90s. The White Army stands out from various tribal militias operating in
South Sudan, because its initial goal of being a group of armed youths
intended to protect their cattle herds has been abstracted and corrupted
politically several times by warlords fighting for political objectives.
In 1991 the White Army supported Dr. Riek's cause and as well changed sides
after Dr. Riek returned to the SPLA/M to support Khartoum's agenda. After
comprehensive peace agreement, pardoned elements of the White Army's
officers joined the SPLA and some remain with the Sudanese Armed Forces.
Apparently, the White Army resuscitates whenever there is a defection in
the SPLA/M ranks. In 2011, following George Athor and Gatdet's rebellion,
the white army surfaced again and participated in fighting government along
Athor and Gatdet's forces. After Athor's demise, the White Army remained
dormant in fighting against government, but came alive after December 15th Juba
incident with vigor in support of Dr. Riek Machar's cause.
The White Army has been recycled to the point of having gained professional
fighting experience and has developed a binding solidarity lacking in a
normal militia force hierarchy and acts more like mercenary forces that
join any fight for war booties, making it a force of destabilization and
destruction. It is notorious in rallying its base to come out in numbers
and threatening to exterminate. Its militants threaten to wipe out the
SPLA, bowed to exterminate Murle tribe from the face of the earth and
recently stooped to marching to Juba to topple the government and put Dr.
Riek as the President.
As peace talks between Dr. Riek and South Sudan government are ongoing in
Addis Abba, many South Sudanese wonder as to what would be the
"status" of *White
Army* when peace a deal is signed between Riek's forces and the government
of South Sudan? Would *White Army* forces put down their guns and melts
again into their respective villages? Or would White Army packs guns and
settles back in villages? Or would it be amalgamated into national forces:
army, security, police, game, prison, etc.?
The White Army activities and it existence at this point in history of
South Sudan has revived a century old sort of tribal defence, where tribes
formed tribal warriors to defend territories and their people. Such a
tribal solidarity is a hindrance to "one nation one people" vision. This
White Army contradiction would hardly consort with badly needed South
Sudan's nation building and nationalism. At this juncture, all tribes of
South Sudan are required by virtue of nation building and nationalism to
ward off their tribal defence mechanism and embrace joining or trusting
"National Army" that protects properties and territories of the nation and
which provides security of its people regardless of tribe. It is obvious
that "White Army factor" is a great defect in South Sudan nationalism since
many Lou Nuer, in form of White Army and its associates, lucidly inclined
to a divided loyalty.
Equally, many ask how would non-Nuer communities neighbouring Lou Nuer
perceived armed Lou Nuer youth since their attempt to annihilate Murle,
invasion of Bor, Malakal and their current participation in challenging a
well-equipped National Army. Would these unfortunate events
spearheaded by *White
Army*, in which Lou Nuer youth proved their zeal, might and threat to
neighbouring communities existence, encourage a sort of "arming race" in
the bordering communities? Clearly, many communities will find it difficult
to live along side Lou Nuer community without a viable protection. In the
past, communities bordering Lou Nuer community have suffered frequent
cattle rustling and raids in which lost of lives and properties were
unremitting.
However, the events of December 15th destruction and killing along ethnic
line have taken the threat of this armed militia to certain height. After
peace agreement the government campaigns in disarming communities was
heeded by various communities that immediately, after having disarmed,
became targets of a failed to disarmed, well-armed White Army militias'
cattle rustling raids. For years, the cries of victimized communities,
raided by White Army elements, felt in deaf ears of government in Juba.
Now, the war along tribal line transpired. Inevitably, once disarmed
communities are up to arming themselves, a doom that would again haunt
South Sudan national security.
Apparently, with fresh grievances of the December 15th in mind, disarming
communities neighbouring*White Army*'s territories would be a difficult
task to accomplish since White Army has demonstrated its villain and
capability of defeating even a formidable National Army. Compounded by
vivid, bad experiences of the past disarmaments that exposed bordering
communities to the White Army's aggression and dangers of armed raids, the
disarming task would prove futile. Indeed, it is also apparent that one of
White Army quest is always joining rebellions to gain passage to guns that
it would eventually maintain for raiding purposes after crisis is over.
Certainly, peaceful co-existence, after December 15th and its subsequent
destructions of lives and properties would inexorably be frustrated by
future failure to disarm rival
communities.
It
is difficult to imagine a feasible solution to the White Army's saga
knowing that a sizable numbers of*White Army* men would be absorbed into
national army and when the rest would retreat back into their various
villages where their daily activities would again be revealed in cattle
rustling and defence of their tribe exhibited by their rallied march to
exterminate *Murle* tribe and toppling of the government. Already, the
White Army claimed having following in national armed forces. The
predicament is compounded now that, and notoriously, the white army is
currently a rebel force partaking in struggle to oust a democratically
elected government by all citizens of South Sudan and replace it with their
own.
All these facts pertaining to *White Army* doctrines and participations
proved that South Sudan has enormous challenge at its doorstep. Our
National armed forces will never have one doctrine if elements of
indoctrinated tribal disciples are absorbed in its ranks and files. But
again, how would it play out in discernment if some segments in one nation
deny a right to serve in its own national armed forces? On one hand,
trepidation of disloyalty to the nation is judged by the
straightforwardness of which some of former white army officers defected
from National army to defend their tribal cause after December 15th. In
gruesome manner, some of the defected officers murdered their army
colleagues before taking to the bush, which would attest to a possibility
of an objection or the second thought that may be given to incorporation of
White Army elements into armed force in future. Nonetheless, objection of
white army officers to join national army would be another bone of
contention for some morons to justify another rebellion. It is a difficult
puzzle to solve, in real sense, in order to ascertain a win-win solution.
Likewise, our politics would not be normal knowing that all or one
politician holds a threat card of using tribal based militia or a following
in the national army to tip the balance in propelling political interest.
Dr. Riek's rebellion proved why many people feared his removal in the
government. Clearly, some predicted with accuracy that Dr. Riek would let
loose his army to struggle for power if removed from the government. Many
thought Dr. Riek learned from his past blunders and that he would adhere to
the rules of democracy by considering waiting patiently for the ballet box
victory. Dr. Riek was a step away from the seat he badly needed had he
waited for a year. But his unquestionable disloyalty to the hierarchy
crippled his desire.
Besides, he was unaware or he didn't trust that he gained trust across
party and tribal line, proven by his coup attempt SPLM colleagues
following, regardless of his past misdemeanors. With conspicuous bad
governance, rampant corruption, lack of democracy, many thought he was the
one, an alternative, despite his participation in the government; but he
blew it.
Democratically, South Sudanese were longing for an open democratic
society. But this rebellion, along tribal line, and the fact that Dr. Riek
considered military coup to change things, has put us back to the Stone Age
thinking. The rebellion has instead verified distrust some had with
certain politicians, especially him, Dr. Riek, and proven wrong those who
wanted South Sudan to be tribally/racially blind society.
December 15th with it merciless onslaughts will make it hard to trust
politicians in general. Such misgivings in a *tribalized* society, like
ours, should democratic elections exercise, would translate into voting
along tribal line that would do our country disservice by depriving the
talented ones an opportunity of wining important positions in the country
in order to give their needed leadership and services. And not to mention,
the coup or now rebellion has impeded democratic processes the country
needed to progress in many ways. Fear, of unknown consequences, has now
hampered free thinking, association and expression after witnessing horrors
of December 15th incident.
I know that there are NO easy solutions to White Army's nation building
threat. Whether it is amalgamated into national armed forces, putting down
guns or have their guns and return to their villages, its threat to
national security and nation building process remains the same, as it was
the case after December 15th incident. Indeed, *White Army* has turned Lou
Nuer territory into disreputable part of the country, inhibited by some
people "on the skid". In real sense of words, *White Army* is "the sword
of Damocles" dangling above the head of the South Sudan sovereignty.
Paradoxically, South Sudan's nation building would not be complete if Lou
Nuer defying youth aren't schooled to realize their potentials, different
from cattle rustling career, which would disengage them from terminal
idealness and give them hopes and viable success and future. Our nation
needs to try its level best to address Lou Nuer youth grievances to avert
unnecessary onslaughts and destruction in future. It is necessary to note
as well that even though White Army is synonymous with Lou Nuer Community,
it is obvious too that not all Lou Nuers, youth or elders, subscribe to
White Army doctrine. Therefore, it is incumbent upon the government of
South Sudan, Lou Nuer Chiefs, elders, and intellectuals, and above all
South Sudanese in general to work collectively to disengage every youth
predisposed to destructive rebellious activities.
Morris K. Yoll is a concerned South Sudanese, residing in Alberta. He
could be reached at:[email protected].
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