By Rengo Gyyw Rengo, Jr., Addis Ababa
Artwork by Deng Forbes
January 28, 2015 (SSB) — There is a developing crisis in Aweil. But first, one must confess, that I do not know much about it. I have heard alot from my friends from Aweil.
Aweil, is used synonymously to mean the “Northern Bhar al Ghazal State”, which is a home to Dinka Malual plus other minorities such as Jur Chol. Aweil is also the Capital City of the State. It has always been the most populous area or region in the history of Southern Sudan. However, the 2008 National Household Census which was disputed had designated Jonglei State, where I come from, to be the most populous state.
That a side. Two days ago, the news headlines bombarded the nation and the world, of a new crisis in Aweil. Some members of state parliament were reported to have passed a Vote of No Confidence on a caretaker Governor, Kuel Aguer. Kuel Aguer, a politician, an intellectual and former UN agency employee, was appointed by President Salva Kiir seven months ago to replace Gen. Paul Malong Awan, the current SPLA Chief of Staff, who was removed from Aweil Governorship to head the SPLA during the crisis.
Kuel, was a campaign manager for Paul Malong during the 2010 elections. The main contender or challenger to Paul Malong in Gubernatorial contest, was Gen. Dau Aturjong, whom Paul Malong did not like. Elections were rigged and Dau’s campaigns were intimidated. Dau “lost” the game to Paul Malong and he played it cool, until he was pushed to join rebellion against the Government recently.
BACKGROUND TO THE CURRENT CRISIS IN AWEIL
The December 2013 national crisis in South Sudan had demanded for some one who would quell or quash the rebellion. Paul Malong as a Governor “elected” in 2010, in charge of Aweil, had embarked on recruiting a private army, following the Juba “Give Away” of the 14 Miles. Paul Malong had attended the Addis Ababa talks in which the 14 miles, was put under a buffer zone between Sudan and South Sudan. to “de-escalate” the tension between the two countries, South Sudan and Sudan, 14 miles became a victim.
That forced Gen. Paul Malong to withdraw from the talks, came back to Juba and proceeded to India. Aweil citizens demonstrated both in Aweil and Juba against the decision of including the 14 miles in the disputed areas. 14 miles was not originally in the list of the disputed areas such as Kafia Kingi, Ofrah el Nhas, Pan Thou, etc.
Citizens of Aweil, denounced Kiir’s Government, burned his photo in Aweil, and changed a name of a school which was named as “Salva Kiir Primary School” to “Bol Akok Primary School.” As a result of the 14 miles controversy, the Governor, General Paul Malong, decided to recruit a battalion he named ” Amiath Noon”, which means ” Grass Mower or destroyer.” This battalion was a private army to the Governor since he had bowed to fight both Juba’s and Khartoum’s Governments over 14 miles.
The Governor, who was also a wily General, had other interests to protect, stealthily or clandestinely to say, his control over “War Awaar”, a lucrative custom border post between South Sudan and his large family over 100 wives and hundreds of children. Unlike other customs posts, which produce revenue for national economy, such as Nadapal, Renk, Kaya, and Nimule, War Waar had itself privatized under Paul Malong. The Governor had and still has personal discretion and control over proceeds from War Awaar, hitherto.
When crisis developed in Juba, it found the capacity of the national Army, SPLA wanting. Amiath Noon, General Paul Malong’s private army, became handy, and branded “Dot-ku-Bany”, meaning “let’s rescue the Leader or President” (Salva Kiir) whose sit was under immediate threat from the Vice President Dr. Riak Machar’s rebels. Amiath Noon was transferred and deployed to Juba and Bor to fight the Riak’s White Army and other auxiliary rebels that wanted to attack Juba or killing Dinkas to avenge the Nuer alleged to have been killed in Juba under President Kiir’s units.
Malong Awan soon after that capitalized on the national crisis, by putting another battalion, ” Mathiang Anyor”, under training, a six thousand man-troops. The first units of the second battalion arrived in Juba during March 1014, when there was a shoot out at the SPLA Gheheda Headquarters, “over salaries.”
NATURE OF THE CRISIS IN AWEIL
Dau Aturjong who contested against Paul Malong, was barred out from succeeding Paul Malong when Paul Malong was brought to Juba, as SPLA Chief of Staff. Paul Malong used all his influence to ensure that Dau Aturjong did not succeed him. The chance fell to Kuel Aguer, who became a new acting Governor for Aweil seven months ago.
Kuel Aguer, in his seven months old tenure, deliberately or inadvertently, antagonizes the standing order in Aweil. Few days ago, before a Vote of No-Confidence was passed on him, he had decided to suspend a household taxes in the whole of Aweil State. Kuel justified his decision by stating that he did not see the reason as to why the household tax should continue to be levied on the local poor citizens, when it does not serve national interest. It is reported to have asked, “where does it go?”. “Who uses the taxes?” If the taxes do not serve any national interest or the citizens in the area, why having them? Why making the ordinary citizens more poorer? Thus, he declared suspension of the household taxes in the whole of Aweil.
It did not take long before the State Parliament went into session and he was sacked through a Vote of No -Confidence by Members of Parliament said to be affiliated to Paul Malong or bribed by Paul Malong to dethrone him. The Vote of No-Confidence saw a parliament divided into supporters and opposers. The insufficiency of quorum in the Parliament to remove the Governor is also reported. Comrade Kuel Aguer responded by carrying clandestine mobilization against the “sponsored coup” to safeguard his position. The following morning, that was two days ago, he drove to his Office and issued decrees for everybody to report to their work places of work, failure to do so, would lead to penalties.
However, his defiance drew the behind-the-scene powers as emissaries were ferrying information between the groups. Kuel Aguer is reported to have left for Juba yesterday afternoon. This morning, on the 28th of January, 2015, Aweil was put under military cordon. It is reported that both police and military tanks are marauding the whole towns and tensions is high.
It is not yet clear who has deployed the army and police in the town. However, citizens of Aweil have mentioned the Head of the Police, Akot Deng, a notorious personality, as one of the people illegally prodding the State Government’s activities for their own benefits. This personality is alleged to have turned down transfer to Bor. It is alleged that he declared he would NEVER leave Aweil under any circumstances.That he can only leave in a coffin!
That was after Gen. Pieng Deng Kuol, South Sudan Police Inspector General of Police, had written a transfer letter of Akok Deng from Aweil to Bor but General Malong, told the IGP to restore back Akok Deng in Aweil, an order which was obeyed and executed. The citizens of Aweil are worried that, the security forces deployment in the town may not be under conventional deployment.
Akok Deng, the Motion-Movers MPs, Paul Malong etc are suspected to be against the new Governor, who seem to be working against the personal interests of Paul Malong. This is not the first time, that Paul Malong is having problems with people who do not serve his interests. Malong and some colleagues of his, were exploiting the slave retrieval project that was sponsored by the Christian Solidarity International [CSI]. South Sudanese citizens, children and women were plundered and enslaved in the Northern Sudan by Arab raiders and militias during the war in 1990s.That was one of the many reasons that brought Dr. Majak D’Agoot into conflicts with Paul Malong and Bol Madut. Majak D’Agoot was the Bhar al Ghazal area commander. Both gentlemen asked Dr. John Garang, the SPLA Chief to transfer Majak out of the area.
As of now, many people, both in Aweil and South Sudan in general believe, to be a Governor in Aweil, you must be a puppet of Paul Malong, the owner of the Empire. There are other quasi-military morons and state mafias supping state resources.
Comrade, Kuel Aguer is believed to have tempered with the existing order or Malong-order in Aweil. Unless, Juba intervenes, chaos might ensues in Aweil and that will affect the general order in the country. President Salva Kiir is not immuned from this phenomenon.
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