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

Background

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

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

  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.
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