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South Sudan United Front

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
South Sudan United Front
Leaders
FoundationApril 2018
IdeologyFederalism
Part ofSouth Sudan Opposition Alliance
OpponentsSouth Sudan Government of South Sudan
Battles and warsSouth Sudanese Civil War

The South Sudan United Front/Army (SS-UF/A), often just called South Sudan United Front (SS-UF), is a South Sudanese rebel group which has taken part in the South Sudanese Civil War.

History

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Background

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The South Sudanese Civil War erupted in 2013 as a result of disputes between President Salva Kiir Mayardit and Vice President Riek Machar. The Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA), the country's military, consequently fractured into pro-Kiir loyalists and pro-Machar forces; the latter formed the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-in-Opposition. Attempts to end the civil war peacefully repeatedly failed.[1] In mid-2017, political struggles within the government resulted in Kiir deposing SPLA chief of staff Paul Malong Awan and putting him under house arrest.[2] Malong was characterized as a powerful Dinka nationalist.[3] Some followers of Malong in the SPLA rebelled after his arrest.[2]

Operations

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Malong was released from his house arrest in November 2017 so that he could travel to Kenya for medical reasons.[4] In January 2018, one of Malong's former followers, Chan Garang Lual, organized a raid into Juba.[2] On 9 April 2018, Malong officially rebelled and announced the SS-UF would be his new organisation to challenge President Kiir. Malong accused Kiir of turning the nation into a failed state after looting the country's resources,[5] and claimed that the SS-UF would fight for a new government system which supported federalism. The group also announced that it would become part of the South Sudan Opposition Alliance, a coalition of South Sudanese opposition factions.[4] Several SPLA commanders and soldiers who had formerly been loyal to Malong, including those who had become part of the SPLM-IO in the meantime, joined his new force.[6]

In August 2018, much of the SS-UF's Equatorian force surrendered to the government. About 300 fighters, led by Ajang Ajang Lino (SS-UF political leader), Chan Garang Lual (SS-UF chief of staff), and Garang Garang (SS-UF secretary general), agreed to an amnesty deal signed in Uganda. They consequently rejoined the SPLA.[6]

The SPLM-IO and the government eventually agreed to a peace deal, but other rebel groups like the SS-UF were not included. In August 2019, the SS-UF and two other factions, namely Thomas Cirillo's South Sudan National Democratic Alliance (SSNDA) and Pagan Amum's Real Sudan People's Liberation Movement (R-SPLM) resolved to unite their activities under the "United South Sudanese Opposition Movements" (SSOMA) umbrella organization.[7]

References

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  1. ^ "Clashes break out near South Sudan capital in truce violation". Reuters. 5 January 2018. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "Machar's group distances itself from Juba fighting". Radio Tamazuj. 7 January 2018. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  3. ^ "South Sudan president replaces army chief". Reuters. 9 May 2017. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  4. ^ a b "South Sudan ex-army chief Malong forms new rebel movement". East African. 9 April 2018. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  5. ^ "Ex-military chief Paul Malong forms organisation to challenge Salva Kiir | The Star, Kenya". the-star.co.ke. Retrieved 2018-05-18.
  6. ^ a b "Rebel officer Chan Garang rejoins government". Radio Tamazuj. 20 August 2018. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  7. ^ "South Sudanese opposition movements unite to end civil war". Sudan Tribune. 1 September 2019. Retrieved 27 September 2019.