South Sudan Patriotic Army

The South Sudan Patriotic Army (abbreviated SSPA) is a South Sudanese rebel militia that takes part in the South Sudanese Civil War and serves as military wing of Costello Garang Ring's South Sudan Patriotic Movement.[3] Well armed and relatively numerous, the SSPA mostly operates in Northern Bahr el Ghazal and is considered to be one of the most powerful rebel groups in South Sudan.

South Sudan Patriotic Army
Participant in the South Sudanese Civil War
Active2016/17 – present
IdeologyAnti-Salva Kiir Mayardit[1]
Allegiance
  • Costello Garang Ring's South Sudan Patriotic Movement
  • Paul Malong Awan (possibly)
Group(s)Dot Baai brigade[2]
LeadersBrig. Gen. Agany Abdel Bagi Ayii Akol
SpokespersonBrig. Gen. Deng Mareng Deng (until Oct. 2017)
Area of operationsBahr el Ghazal region of South Sudan
Size15,000 (self-claim)[2]
Opponent(s) South Sudan government
  • Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA)

History

Origins

The SSPA was founded by Brig. Gen. Agany Abdel Bagi Ayii Akol in Northern Bahr el Ghazal sometime between early 2016 and April 2017.[2][4] From its first appearance, the SSPA possessed equipment that was unusually sophisticated for a new rebel group, including uniforms, technicals, PK machine guns, RPGs, and Kalashnikov rifles. Observers noted that this might hint at a powerful patron supporting the group.[5]

Accordingly, there has been much speculation about possible links between the SSPA and various South Sudanese strongmen. One news website argued that the militia could be a front organization of Paul Malong Awan, the former SPLA Chief of General Staff, as the SSPA's emergence coincided with the arrival of Malong's private army Mathiang Anyoor in Aweil State.[5] Furthermore, numerous suspected followers of Malong are known to have joined the SSPA.[6][7][8] On the other side, the militia shares its name with the South Sudan Patriotic Movement (SSPM) of opposition politician Costello Garang Ring. Though it was initially denied that Garang had any connections with the SSPA,[9] the militia's spokesman Deng Mareng Deng eventually revealed Garang as the SSPA's political leader.[10]

Operations

The SSPA's initial base reportedly was Meram in Aweil East State, from where it started to attack positions of the SPLA in the nearby Rumaker in late April 2017.[4] In June, the militia claimed to have captured the towns of Malek Gumel and Warguet, and announced its plans to conquer Paul Malong Awan's hometown of Malualkon, near Aweil. The government officially denied the fall of either town to the rebels,[2][5] while a local policeman confirmed that Malek Gumel had been conquered by the SSPA, though Warguet remained under SPLA control.[11] The SSPA also claimed to have captured large amounts of weaponry and other equipment in course of the fighting at the two towns.[2] By August 2017, the SSPA had lost Malek Gumel, however, and launched another attack on it as well as Majak Wei. These assaults were repulsed by the government military.[12]

In September, the SSPA claimed to have initiated talks with other rebel factions to coordinate their military actions. Agany Abdel Bagi Ayii Akol stated that the insurgents would form an alliance which would include the SSPA, alongside forces loyal to Riek Machar, Lam Akol, Thomas Cirillo, Joseph Bangasi Bakosoro,[13] and John Uliny.[1] The latter however denied that any talks were taking place with the SSPA.[14]

By October 2017, the SSPA was considered to be one of the greatest threats to the South Sudanese government, having made "significant military gains" at this point.[9] Despite this, the militia's spokesman Brig. Gen. Deng Mareng Deng defected to the government in late October, citing his disappointment in Costello Garang Ring's political direction as reason.[10] In January and February 2018, however, several followers of Malong joined the SSPA alongside their personal militias. Among these were Kuol Athuai Hal, Manut Yel Lual, and Baak Bol Baak.[6][7][8]

On 25 August 2018, Brig. Gen. Agany declared himself "interim leader" of the entire South Sudan Patriotic Movement, effectively ousting Costello Garang Ring as the party's head. He claimed that he had been elected by the SSPM/A's other leading figures after Costello had failed to uphold his commitment to the ongoing Khartoum peace talks between the government and various rebel factions. The general said that he had consequently entered the peace talks, and could "reassure the public that there is no any problem at all".[15] Costello responded by stating that he fully supported the peace process, and Agany had "no authority" to replace him anyway.[16] The dispute continued until 4 September, when another SSPA commander announced that Agany and Costello had reconciled, with the latter having agreed to "resolve some administrative issues".[3] It was later clarified that the disagreements between the two would be settled by a mediation committee formed by SSPM and tribal leaders.[17]

Organization

The SSPA's founder and military leader is Brig. Gen. Agany Abdel Bagi Ayii Akol, an ethnic Dinka[18] and son of tribal leader Abdel Bagi Ayii Akol.[17] Agany served as officer in the SPLA before joining Peter Gadet's rebellion against the South Sudanese government in 2016.[4] Brig. Gen. Deng Mareng Deng served as the group's spokesman[5] until his defection in October 2017.[10] General Hussein Abdel-Bagi Akol is another senior commander.[3]

The militia claims to have 15,000 fighters under its command and is split into a number of sub-units, one of them being the Dot Baai (Save the Homeland) brigade.[2] Its forces mostly consist of Dinka, but have reportedly managed to attract fighters from other ethnic groups as well.[9]

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References
  1. "Rebels in Northern Bahr al Ghazal say in talks with Agwelek to coordinate operations". Radio Tamazuj. 25 September 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  2. "South Sudan army denies rebel capture of military base in Aweil". Sudan Tribune. 17 June 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  3. "General Agany reconciles with SSPM's leader Costello Garang". Radio Tamazuj. 4 September 2018. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  4. "S. Sudanese army, armed men clash in N. Bahr el Ghazal". Sudan Tribune. 28 April 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  5. "BREAKING: A New Rebel Group Emerges in Northern Bhar el Ghazal, Hometown to Sacked Chief of General Staff". Nyamilepedia. 15 June 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  6. "Malong's associates join rebels". Radio Tamazuj. 4 January 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  7. "Malong's top aide: "I was forced to be a rebel"". Radio Tamazuj. 5 January 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  8. "Army officer linked to Paul Malong joins rebels". Radio Tamazuj. 2 February 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  9. Protus Onyango (11 October 2017). "South Sudan peace talk process now includes more groups". The Standard (Kenya). Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  10. "Costello's army general, group of soldiers defect to government in Aweil". Radio Tamazuj. 27 October 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  11. "Rebel group claims capture of two areas in Northern Bahr al Ghazal". Radio Tamazuj. 15 June 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  12. "Government troops say repulsed rebel attack in Aweil East". Radio Tamazuj. 30 August 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  13. "South Sudan rebel factions in talks for coordinated military operations". Sudan Tribune. 26 September 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  14. "Agwelek forces deny talks with rebels in Northern Bahr al Ghazal over coordination". Radio Tamazuj. 26 September 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  15. "Rebel commander ousts SSPM's leader Costello Garang". Radio Tamazuj. 25 August 2018. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  16. "General Agany has 'no authority' to remove SSPM leader - Costello". Radio Tamazuj. 26 August 2018. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  17. "Tribal leader announces end of split within a South Sudanese opposition group". Sudan Tribune. 5 September 2018. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  18. Chol Mawel (16 June 2017). "PHOTOS: Rebel Group Starts in Sacked Army Chief Malong's State". The Tower Post. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
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