The 35th Anniversary of May 16th: Comrade Salva Kiir and the Founding of the SPLM/A

This is an excerpt from the introduction to the speeches, before and after independence, of President Salva Kiir, “Salva Kiir Mayardit: The Joshua of South Sudan,” edited and published by Simon Yel Yel and PaanLuel Wel in February 2016

By PaanLuel Wel (Juba) and Simon Yel Yel (Kampala)

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Wednesday, May 16, 2018 (PW) — May 26, 1983, marked the day President Kiir revolted against Khartoum’s repressive regime and joined his comrades in the bush. By then, Captain Salva Kiir was a mid-level military intelligence officer in the Sudanese army stationed in Malakal, Southern Sudan. His rebellion came in the wake of the May 16th Bor and May 20th Ayod Uprisings led by Major Kerubino Kuanyin Bol and Major William Nyuon Bany respectively.

Why did it take that long—from May 16th up to May 26th —before Salva Kiir rebelled against Khartoum? This was mainly because he was the one coordinating the security and intelligence of the Underground group. For example, when Khartoum decided to launch a dawn attack on Bor, it was Salva Kiir who passed that message to John Garang in Bor informing them that Khartoum had finally decided to attack Bor. Using that insider information which only an officer in the Sudanese military intelligence could have access to, John Garang and Kerubino Kuanyin were able to strategize and repulse the dawn attack with minimal casualties on their sides.

Secondly, when Khartoum dispatched a battalion from Malakal to take reinforcement to Bor, Salva Kiir passed that crucial message to John Garang and William Nyuon. After the troops arrived in Ayod on their way to Bor, Nyuon lured their officers into a bogus meeting during which they were arrested and killed. Their soldiers were then attacked and scattered, never to reach Bor.

Is the Republic of South Sudan hurtling towards the status of Somalia?

There is a global suggestion that for peace to be in the Horn of Africa, Somalia should be disintegrated into other African Countries in the regions, A South Sudan case Study

By Dut Agostino Agei, Oslo, Norway

 

Wednesday, May 16, 2018 (PW) — South Sudan that we all vote to be independence Country from the Sudan carry the above mentioned case study. In academic discussions borrowing information or ideas from a different source that is relevant to your Country current affairs is called case study. This came about after several seminars that I attained and most of the information that many professors used to moderate classes are non-other than the two Countries in the Horn of Africa.

One of them are the republic of Somalia and similarly the republic of South Sudan. I always fall victim whenever current affairs are discussed in my present. This comes with real life situation that whenever professor would want to teach politics he/she may use relevant case to moderate session and that automatically carry nobody else but nationals from Somalia and South Sudan that have never been in peace across several years.

This can be attested to the fact that in every ongoing situation elsewhere in the world and Africa in particular South Sudan should use every scenario to correct whatever affect the Country from the neighboring state especially on issues to do with instabilities in the continent. In several African Union peace agreements there are some opinions that the stability of the Somalia has a waterloo from everybody.

Reasons why the Peace Process is likely to Collapse in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

By Peter Gai Manyuon, Kampala, Uganda

Wednesday, May 16, 2018 (PW) — In fact, the crisis of South Sudan was caused by suspicion of the unknown among the so-called SPLM leaders in 2013.  The ongoing peace talks or side meetings in Ethiopians Capital Addis-Ababa might not bring a genuine peace and stability in South Sudan unless otherwise, President Trump of United States go to Addis Ababa by himself to witness what is currently going on among the SPLM factions or serious measures are taken by the world. So far, the SPLM factions are only looking for what accommodates them not what benefits common citizens in the Country.

On the same note, the issue of setting up the hybrid court is not in the interest of the SPLM factions mainly, SPLM in government and SPLM in opposition since all the groups or factions committed crimes against humanity in one way or the other. What likely the two rivals are looking for is forming a government where they could continue looting the country resources together like what they did since 2005-2018 respectively. According to their supporter’s comments on various social media platforms, any agreement that doesn’t recognize Salva Kiir Mayardit and Dr Riek Machar is not an agreement. The two factions of the SPLMs (SPLM in government and SPLM in Opposition) are confusing their supporters day by day or their supporters are confusing.

Pagan Amum: Happy 35th anniversary of the founding of the SPLM/SPLA

The 35th anniversary of May 16th: Tributes to the fallen heroes and heroines

By Pal Chol Nyan, Juba, South Sudan

Wednesday, May 16, 2018 (PW) — May the 16th is historic. It will go down in the annals of history that it was the year when Southerners said enough was enough. It is the day Southerners took up arms against the minority clique  regime in Khartoum.

It was in 1983 when Southerners expressed their anger publicly against economic, political and social oppression and suppression by the Northerners. Our resources were exploited by the Arab North to develop it.

Our resources were looted in a broad day light with the connivance of some sell-outs. On this occasion and at this juncture, I would like to pay  special tributes to Col.Dr John Garang de Mabior, Major William Nyuon Bany, Major Kerubino Kuanyin, Capt Salva Kiir Mayardit, now General Salva Kiir, the President of the Republic and Capt David Riek Machuoc Mum for, without their bravery, valour and resilience,it wouldn’t have been possible for us to reach where we are today.