Archive for the ‘History’ Category

Remembering Gen. Atem Aguang Atem-Banyelok: Eulogy and Tributes in Living Memory of Gen. Atem Aguang Atem, One of the Most Iconic and Heroic SPLM/SPLA Commanders of the Liberation Struggle

By PaanLuel Wël, Juba, South Sudan

The body of the late Maj. Gen. Atem Aguang Atem being received at Juba airport by the national army; he passed away in kampala on 27 May 2019 after a short illness

1. Introduction

Friday, September 27, 2019 (PW) – Tomorrow, on Saturday, 28 September 2019, the final funeral rites of Maj. Gen. Atem Aguang Atem Deng, who passed away on May 27, 2019, will be conducted at his home, near Giada Military Hospital and opposite Medan Simba, in Juba, South Sudan. The Late Gen. Atem Aguang Atem-Banyelok was one of the most iconic and heroic commanders of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/SPLA)’s war of the liberation struggle in South Sudan. Gen. Atem Aguang participated in most of the historic and fierce battles that defined, shaped and determined the ultimate success of the liberation struggle, leading to the eventual independence of the Republic of South Sudan on July 9, 2011. For his boundless bravery and immense contributions to the successes of the SPLM/SPLA in the battlefields, he was immortalized, alongside his comrades-in-arm, in one of the most legendary and inspirational songs of the liberation struggle, by the renowned artist, Ustaz Panchol Deng Ajang, one of the greatest musicians of the liberation era: 

Maj. Gen. Atem Aguang Atem
Maj. Gen. Atem Aguang Atem

“Atëm Aguang acï thɔ̈ɔ̈rë Parajɔk

Ee Jallab köök cïkë kuath wut

Ku Deng-Madööt atɔ̈u thïn ku Ajak ë Yen

Bïkkë yup cë kä kuath ɣɔ̈k

Dhubɛɛt kuɔ aye mëën

Alueel Yïndïpenden ye wɛɛn Commando One

Kuka lueel Brigade One ye lɛ̈ny Commando Six

Jesh ye riŋ tɔŋ ke ɣou

Ke pam ë thok, athäär ke Dhubɛɛt cie döŋciɛ̈ɛ̈n

Jesh ë Bäny Oyai Deng

Dhubɛɛt kor we cä bë waan

Yïn Daniel Atong, ku Awet Ajing

Döm de Parajɔk ku Awïny

Ciennë jɔ wëi lɔ dhuk

Dunde mɔidït adhiaau

Baŋö jaa looi të jɔl ë keem bɛɛr miööt

Ke Nhialic anhiëër ke dun ëye lɔ̈ŋ

Ye Meerï cool luaak ke cɔ̈t bë lɔ abï dhiaau

Yeeŋö bë ye wëëny ë piny abë tɔ̈u

Ku kuc mandɛ̈ ke cä Atëm bë gam

Ee moi bë wɛɛr roor, adɔ̈ŋ ɣäudheer piny ku tweliib

Ku Dabɛɛb ku agut cä arabiiy ken ke cäth

Chol ë Thɔn athäär cë Chol ë Lual

Dhubɛɛt ke OJS aayï Malual Ayɔɔm

Atëmda athäär ku Deng-Madööt, Macɔk Atëm ku Jɔk Riääk, ku CDR

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The Taking of South Sudan: The Tycoons, Brokers, and Multinational Corporations Complicit in Hijacking the World’s Newest Nation, September 2019

Overview

The Sentry’s investigation exposes an array of international actors who stand to profit from the U.S., UK, Asia and elsewhere, the looting of state assets, and reveals one of the biggest companies in the world providing direct support to deadly militias. Our report details the carving up for private profit of the most lucrative economic and government sectors in the world’s youngest nation. Meanwhile, the South Sudanese people starved, were killed, and were run off their homelands.

Executive Summary

The men who liberated South Sudan proceeded to hijack the country’s fledgling governing institutions, loot its resources, and launched a war in 2013 that has cost hundreds of thousands of lives and displaced millions of people.

They did not act alone. The South Sudanese politicians and military officials ravaging the world’s newest nation received essential support from individuals and corporations from across the world who have reaped profits from those dealings. Nearly every instance of confirmed or alleged corruption or financial crime in South Sudan examined by The Sentry has involved links to an international corporation, a multinational bank, a foreign government or high-end real estate abroad. This report examines several illustrative examples of international actors linked to violence and grand corruption in order to demonstrate the extent to which external actors have been complicit in the taking of South Sudan.

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With the new and friendly government of Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok in the Sudan, President Kiir should revisit the September 2012 Nine Agreements signed between Juba and Khartoum

By Comrade Deng Bol Aruai, Juba, South Sudan

John Garang, Deng Alor and PM Hamdok of the Sudan during the war of liberation
John Garang, Deng Alor and PM Abdalla Hamdok of the Sudan during the war of liberation

Saturday, September 14, 2019 (PW) — With the new and friendly government in the Sudan, I urge President Salva Kiir Mayardit to return to CPA and Post-CPA and Independence arrangements with the Sudan. South Sudan can begin with the Nine Agreements between Sudan and South Sudan as follows. On 27 September 2012, Sudan and South Sudan successfully signed nine agreements on a range of pending issues that they have been negotiating since 2010, initially in accordance with the post-referendum agreement negotiations. The parties have also been engaged in the negotiations of outstanding CPA issues, and have now reached several agreements relating to the CPA and the post secession issues. In this regard, the Embassy has the honor to summarize these nine agreements, as follows:

Sudanese PM Abdalla Hamdok and President Kiir, 13 September JUBA

1. The Agreement on Security Arrangements

This Agreement reaffirms the commitment of the two states to renounce war and to implement all the security agreements and arrangements reached in previous negotiations. There include Agreements relating to the immediate withdrawal of any forces to the side of the border. Specifically, the two states agree to immediately operationalize the Safe Demilitarized Border Zone (SDBZ) in accordance with the administrative and security map, presented to them by the AUHIP in November 2011. The Agreement makes provision for special arrangements for the “14 Mile Area”, which involve the complete demilitarization of the area, overseen by the Joint Political and Security Mechanism (JPSM) and supported by the mechanisms under the JPSM. The parties will maintain the status quo of the joint tribal mechanisms for the resolution of disputes. The parties agree immediately to open the ten agreed border-crossing corridors linking the two states.

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“In this polarized and polarizing conflict, perceptions can overshadow reality, and whatever the equation of the power structures, the Dinka are being seen as having replaced the Arabs as the rulers in an ethnically unjust system. As the various ethnic groups converge against what they perceive as Dinka domination, the Dinka in turn begin to perceive themselves as targeted and paradoxically as in imminent danger of a genocidal onslaught. They therefore strive to mobilize themselves in self-defense.” – Dr Francis Mading Deng – SOUTH SUDAN NATIONAL DIALOGUE; Conceptual Reflections page 43

The National Dialogue Initiative – Final Communique from the Equatoria Regional Conference in Juba, 26 August 2019

Governor Augustino Jadalla Wani of Jubek State.jpg
Governor Augustino Jadalla Wani of Jubek State.jpg

Declaration of Principles – South Sudan Opposition Movement – Pagan Amum, Paul Malong, Thomas Cirillo, Oyai Deng Ajak and Cirino Hiteng launch a new opposition group in the Netherlands

Pagan amum, Paul Malong Awan, Thomas Chirillo, Chirino Hiteng and Oyai Deng Ajak launch the South Sudan Opposition Movement in the Netherlands
Pagan amum, Paul Malong Awan, Thomas Chirillo, Chirino Hiteng and Oyai Deng Ajak launch the South Sudan Opposition Movement in the Netherlands

We are “Karo People” not “Bari Speakers”!

KARO LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE: DECLARATION OF THE KARO PEOPLE OF SOUTH SUDAN

We, the natives of six communities of Central Equatoria State in the Republic of South Sudan, namely; Bari, Kakwa, Kuku, Mundari, Nyangwara and Pojulu;

Mindful of our common origin, heritage, custom, language, affinity and coexistence from creation;

United in our belief that despite the different anthropological naming, which we found ourselves inheriting as a result of different factors and influences, such as getting to be known as tribes;

Aware that we belong to the same ancestry, geographical origin and history, and bonded together by common identity and social ties;

Cognizant that unity and bonding of a people is their strength and a means of survival;

Appreciating that a common name creates a common identity and awakens a realization of a sense of oneness and affinity;

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Public Service Announcement: The Meaning of Liberation in the Context of the Independence of South Sudan

By Cpt. Mabior Garang de Mabior, Nairobi, Kenya

Fellow South Sudanese!

Tuesday, July 30, 2019 (PW) — As the citizens of the Republic of South Sudan – the newest country in Africa and the World – marked the occasion of the birth of our Republic, and as we mark the fourteenth anniversary of the tragic loss of the first President of the Government of South Sudan -Dr. John Garang de Mabior- it is important to take stock of the achievements of the liberation struggle that led to the secession of South Sudan. This begs a pertinent question in this discussion; what do we mean by “liberation”? The Movement which struggled and finally achieved the negotiated settlement – the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) – leading to the birth of the Republic of South Sudan was the Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement and the Sudan Peoples Liberation Army (SPLM/SPLA). The Movement by definition was primarily concerned with “liberation”.

The principal objective of the SPLM/SPLA has never been the secession of South Sudan; however, the movement has always been mindful that this had been the aspiration of the people of South Sudan after subsequent oppressive regimes in Khartoum failed to answer the nationality question since the independence of the old Sudan in1956. –We seem to be falling into the same confusion after clearly having delimited this as one of the root causes of the problem in the old Sudan. It is unfortunate that we have inherited the problems of the old Sudan which we set out to solve as a liberation movement in in the first place.

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Honoring the Earlier Pioneers of Our Revolutionary Struggle – the first Sons of Yirol that joined the Revolutionary Struggle, June 1983: a Partial Reflection of our Great Historical Contribution

By Abraham Majak Makur, Juba, South Sudan

Tuesday, July 30, 2019 (PW) — This piece was meant to be out on the 9th of July, 2019, on the 8th Anniversary Celebration of the Independence of the Republic of South Sudan, but due to preoccupying schedules, I could not make it on time, which could have served the real fit-for-purpose publication in honour of our first pioneers who took it to the bushes in those earlier dark days of revolutionary struggle.

However, I am privileged to publish it today 30th July, 2019, the day that is dedicated to our martyrs, led by our visionary leader, Late Dr. John Garang de Mabior who died on helicopter crash, when he was returning after a short trip to Uganda. Heroes never die, they leave as icons and to inspire the future of our children and beyond.

First and foremost, I would like to apologise in advance, for some of the readership may take this as partial, biased and incomplete article in honoring the earlier pioneers of our revolutionary struggle. Some may ask as to why Yirol alone and others may rush to conclusion that why not inclusive of other areas. For your information, a plan to engulf the whole country is underway.

I am aware of the sequential en masse to the bush of our sons and daughters of South Sudan from various districts of our former colony, right from Koriom, Muor-muor, Kazuk, Zal-zal I and Zal-Zal II, Infejaar, Intesaar divisions respectively of Ethiopia and to the home trained divisions ranging from Mathon-Baai to Achandok and to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement era.

Since charity begins at home, the purpose of this article is to give an overview of the history (a partial reflection) and the contribution of our sons and daughters in the liberation struggle. This is just a beginning —-.

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By Adv. Bol Chol Kucdit, Juba, South Sudan

Tuesday, July 23, 2019 (PW) — It has gone viral on so many media outlets that the National Council of Ministers passed a resolution last week to ban random singing of National Anthem in any occasion where President may be absent. It was broadcasted over the radio and eventually caught the social media’s attention for debate. 

Many commentators condemned the Government’s Spokesperson in person of Hon. Michael Makuei Lueth and the President. People took it as if it was the President and Spokesperson’s sole decision, forgetting that it was a council of ministers’ collective resolution. The decision of council ministers may be reached my consensus or qualified majority vote. 

Indeed, it was not a surprise to see the debate on this issue because South Sudanese are known for two things: praising and criticizing the authorities. You could hardly see anybody proposing solutions to the problem. The blame game has become a culture! This culture of reading anything always with negative lenses must be inferiority complex syndrome. It could be carry over negative feeling towards our former colonizers. The Arabs’ oppression for number of decades made us to look everything with sense of negativity.

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By Mayom Bul Atem, Juba, South Sudan

Tuesday, July 23, 2019 (PW) — As someone who was part of the committee that created South Sudan National Anthem I beg to differ with those who are making fun of President Kiir for ordering politicians and public servants not to sing the national song in his absence. Three important symbols of sovereignty are not used at random. These are

1. The national flag

2. The national coat of arms

3. The national anthem

These three symbols of sovereignty are obviously misused by South Sudanese. Our coat of arms was literally put on every letterhead logo by various government agencies and private companies. Yet, the coat of arms is supposed to appear in the letterhead of the presidency, Ministry of Cabinet Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Defense, (I may have omitted a few more, but you got the idea).

On the national flag, majority of South Sudanese, including government offices use a wrong flag. The moment you use a wrong colour in the flag, that flag becomes a wrong one. Instead of using SKY BLUE in the triangle, South Sudanese use DARK BLUE instead. The colours of the national flag are properly described and explained by the committee that was tasked to work on the flag. Their hue values are also stated for those who are professional graphic designers and printers.

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Governor Maker Thing Maal of Jonglei State has announced his new government with 53% of the portfolios from Bor County, 26% from Twic East County and 21% from Duk County. In comparison, the previous government of Governor Philip Aguer Panyang was composed of 53% for Bor County, 27% for Twic East County and 20% for Duk County.

By PaanLuel Wel, Nairobi, Kenya

Wednesday, July 17, 2019 (PW) – Here (below) is the tribocratic analysis of the new government of Jonglei state, announced by Governor Maker Thiong Maal.

(a) Summary of Governor Maker Thiong Maal’s New Government of Jonglei state
County Position per County Percentage share per County Jur/Locality Position per Jur Percentage share per Jur
Bor 10 52.6% Juor-Gok 6 31.5%
Juor-Athooch 4 21.1%
Twic East 5 26.3% Juor-Lith 4 21.1%
Juor-Roor 1 5.3%
Duk 4 21.1% Hol Dinka 3 15.7%
Nyarweng Dinka 1 5.3%
Total 19 100% 19 100%
(b) Summary of Governor Philip Aguer Panyang’s Previous Government of Jonglei state
County Position per County Percentage share per County Jur/Locality Position per Jur Percentage share per Jur
Bor 8 53.3% Juor-Gok 6 40.0%
Juor-Athooch 2 13.3%
Twic East 4 26.7% Juor-Lith 3 20.0%
Juor-Roor 1 6.7%
Duk 3 20.0% Hol Dinka 2 13.3%
Nyarweng Dinka 1 6.7%
Total 15 100% 15 100%
           

Below is the tribocratic analysis of the new government of Jonglei state, announced by Governor Maker Thiong Maal.

(c) Governor Maker Thiong Maal’s New Government for Jonglei State
County Jur S/No. Name Position Payam Community
Bor (52.7%) Juor-Gok (31.6%) 1 Hon. Maker Thing Maal Governor Anyidi Palek
2 Hon. Agot Alier Leek Special Affair Advisor Anyidi Palek
3 Dr. Mach Majier Ghai Mayor of Bortown Anyidi Palek
4 Hon. John Dut Kuch Minister for Agriculture Makuach Ater
5 Hon. Rachael Amuor Pach Minister for Gender and Social Welfare Makuach Koch
6 Hon. Ayom Mach Jok Minister for Physical Infrastructure Kolnyang Abii
Juor-Athooch (21.1%) 7 Hon. kwai Deng Kwai Minister for Health Baidit Angakuei
8 Hon. Ajok Jacob Kuot Minister for Finance Baidit Pathuyith
9 Hon. Isaac Mamer Ruuk Peace Advisor Jalle Alian
10 Hon. Lith Aluong Kang Social Welfare Advisor Jalle Aboudit
Twic East (26.4%) Juor-Lith (21.1%) 1 Hon. Diing Akol Diing (Diing-Malak) Deputy Governor Kongor Kongor
2 Hon. Deng Ajang Duot Political Affairs Advisor Kongor Kongor
3 Hon. Abel Manyok Ajak Minister for Education Lith (Wernyol) Adhiok
4 Hon. Dut Achuek Lual Minister for Labor & Public Service Nyuak Dachuek
Juor-Roor (5.3%) 5 Hon. Deng Alier Mading Minister for Youth & Sport Pakeer (Maar) Pakeer
None None Ajuong (Paliau) Ajuong
Duk (21.1%) Hol Dinka (15.8%) 1 Amb. Manyang Awuol Padiet Speaker of the state Assembly Duk Padiet Hol
2 Hon. Atong Kuol Manyang Minister for Information Duk Padiet Hol
3 Hon. Jacob Akech Dengdit Youth Affairs Advisor Duk Padiet Hol
Nyarweng Dinka (5.3%) 4 Hon. Elijah Maduk Yuang Minister for Local Government Duk Payuel Nyarweng

The opinion expressed here is solely the view of the writer. The veracity of any claim made is the responsibility of the author, not PaanLuel Wël Media (PW) website. If you want to submit an opinion article, commentary or news analysis, please email it to paanluel2011@gmail.com. PaanLuel Wël Media (PW) website do reserve the right to edit or reject material before publication. Please include your full name, a short biography, email address, city and the country you are writing from.

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CDR Arok Thon Arok and CDR Edward Abyei Lino Wuor: How The Ogaden War Inadvertently Led To The Liberation Of South Sudan

By Engineer Deng Diar Diing, Mombasa, Kenya

CDR Kerubino Kuanyin Bol, CDR Arok Thon Arok and CDR William Nyuon Bany
CDR Kerubino Kuanyin Bol, CDR Arok Thon Arok and CDR William Nyuon Bany

Wednesday, July 10, 2019 (PW) — The just celebrated independence of South Sudan came through multifaceted efforts of South Sudanese, citizens of other areas of new Sudan and their sympathizers. Some of the well-wishers went a long way in ensuring that Sudanese had a Launchpad to their liberation struggle while others guaranteed that peace came in terms that provided safeguards to the right to self-determination of the marginalized people. This was indeed secured through Dr. John multi-frontal methodology that deployed armed struggle (AS), Diplomatic and International Isolation (DII), agitation for internal uprising (IU) and political negotiation (PN) with successive regimes in the Sudan.

A critical devotee that ensured successful launch of Sudanese Liberation agenda in 1983 was Federal Republic of Ethiopia through Derg Regime of Mengistu Hail Meriam. Mengistu sent helicopter to search and picked Dr. John Garang at the border of Ethiopia and Sudan when he was under hot pursuit of Sudanese Army. The government of Ethiopia leveraged its relations with USSR, Cuba, Angola, North Korea and Libya to give SPLM/A its first international podium. Federal Government of Ethiopia also with the support of Russia and North Korea helped arm 105, 104, Jamus, Tiger and Tumsah battalions.

Dr. John and his team were able to use this platform to secure military hardware worth US$ 96 millions from Libya to arm Koryom, Muormuor and Zalzal. What has never been publically discussed by South Sudanese, whether out of dearth of inquisitiveness or by deliberation was the exact interest of Ethiopians in advancing liberation movement in neighboring Sudan. While others would simply argue that it was geopolitical orientation of Communism-Capitalism axis.

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Tributes in Living Memory to Gen. Gabriel Achuoth Deng: Celebrating the Inspirational Life and Times of a South Sudanese Iconic Freedom Fighter and Veteran Politician, Gen. Achuoth Deng Achuoth (Kärkäwään)

By PaanLuel Wël, Juba, South Sudan

Eulogy of Gen. Gabriel Achuoth Deng: Celebrating the Life and Times of Gen. Achuoth Deng Achuoth (Kärkäwään)
Eulogy of Gen. Gabriel Achuoth Deng: Celebrating the Life and Times of Gen. Achuoth Deng Achuoth (Kärkäwään)

Monday, July 7, 2019 (PW) — On the 16th of May, 1983, when the war of liberation struggle broke out in Bor, Jonglei State, the leadership of the Underground Movement dispatched Gen. Gabriel Achuoth Deng Achuoth (Deng-Kärkäwään) to Khartoum to warn and enlighten their members in the north that the new armed revolutionary movement, occasioned by the mutiny in Bor, was not going to be the usual South Sudanese reactionary movement fixated on the ‘Southern Problem’ at the expenses of the rights, justice and freedom for the marginalized people of the Sudan. In his book, Wars and a New Vision for the Sudan: A Political Lesson, which was published in 2005, Gen. Achuoth Deng-Kärkäwään explained thus: “When John Garang withdrew from Bor for Ethiopia, it was the same time that I left for Khartoum. This was to come and explain to the forces of the revolution in that part of the country the objective of the new movement. That the new movement should not be mistaken as the usual Southern reactionary movement for the separation of the South.”[1]

The Underground Movement was established by progressive officers of the Anyanya One movement as a result of the fallout from the aborted coup d’état in Lobone against the leadership of Gen. Joseph Lagu in 1972 following the signing of the Addis Ababa Agreement. These progressive officers, on whose behalf Captain John Garang wrote his historical 1972 letter to Gen. Joseph Lagu, were bitterly opposed to the signing of the Addis Ababa Accord, in preference for the continuation of war for the total liberation and separation of South Sudan. After the failure of their coup against their boss, Gen. Joseph Lagu, and their subsequent absorption into the Sudanese army as per the stipulations of the 1972 peace accord, the progressive officers formed a clandestine organization, the Underground Movement, within the rank and file of the national army. Their first leader was Gen. Emmanuel Abuur Nhial (Abuur-Matuong) and then Gen. Albino Akol Akol after the killing of Gen. Emmanuel Abuur Nhial in 1976 and later by Col. John Garang after his return from the USA in 1982.

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The Genius of Dr. John Garang: Speeches on the War of Liberation Paperback – November 26, 2015 by Dr. John Garang (Author), PaanLuel Wël (Editor)
The Genius of Dr. John Garang: Speeches on the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) Paperback – November 26, 2015 by Dr. John Garang (Author), PaanLuel Wël (Editor)
The Genius of Dr. John Garang: Tributes to the Late SPLM/A’s Leader Dr. John Garang de Mabioor (Volume 3) Paperback – July 11, 2015 by PaanLuel Wël (Author)
Who Killed Dr. John Garang Paperback – July 27, 2015 by PaanLuel Wël (Author)
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