Sudan People's Liberation Army

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Not to be confused with Sudan Liberation Movement in Darfur.
SPLA/M emblem
SPLA/M emblem

The Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) and its political wing, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) – known collectively as Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement (SPLA/M) – is a predominantly Christian Sudanese rebel movement turned political party. Based in Southern Sudan, SPLA/M fought in the Second Sudanese Civil War against the Sudanese government from 1983 to 2005. In 1989 it joined the main opposition group in Sudan, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which in January 2005 signed a Comprehensive Peace Agreement with the Sudanese government. SPLA/M has since had representatives in the Government of Sudan, as well as being the main constituent of the Government of the semi-autonomous Southern Sudan.

It was led by John Garang until his death on 30 July 2005. It is now led by Salva Kiir Mayardit who is also the President of Southern Sudan and Vice President of Sudan.

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[edit] History

SPLA soldiers
SPLA soldiers

The SPLA/M is largely Southern Sudan-based, non-Arabic and secular, in contrast to the predominantly Muslim and Arab north. As a rebel group it was formed in 1983 by rebellious south Sudanese soldiers of the Sudanese Army based in Bor, Pochalla and Ayod (Bor Mutiny). These joined remnants of the Anyanya rebels of the First Sudanese Civil War based in Ethiopia. It was founded by Colonel Dr John Garang, Captain Salva Kiir Mayardit, Major William Nyuon Bany and Major Kerubino Kuanyin Bol. It fought against the governments of Gaafar Nimeiry, Sadiq al-Mahdi and Omar Hasan Ahmad al-Bashir in what is now called the Second Sudanese Civil War. SPLA/M's declared aim was to establish a democratic Sudan with it as the leading party in control of the southern areas. The war has been largely described in religious and ethnic terms, and also as a struggle for control of the water and oil resources located in the southern and the western Sudan.

In the early 1991, the SPLA-Nasir faction led by DrRiek Machar and Dr Lam Akol attempted to overthrow chairman Garang. The attempt failed but led to widespread fighting in the south and the formation of other rebel groups, such as Carabino Kuany Bol's SPLA Bahr-al-Ghazal faction. These internal divisions hampered negotiations with the government. SPLA-Nasir, renamed itself SPLA-United and then transformed itself, with substantial personnel changes, into the South Sudan Independence Movement/Army. Several smaller factions signed a separate peace agreement with Khartoum in April 1997 and formed the United Democratic Salvation Front (UDSF).

The Sudanese government accused Uganda and Eritrea of supporting the SPLA/M. The group is alleged to have operated on the Ugandan side of the Sudanese border with Uganda at the southern limit of Sudan.

In 2005, a treaty between the SPLA/M and the Sudanese government led to the formal recognition of Southern Sudanese autonomy. The political wing, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (Al-Harakat Ash-Shaabia Le Tahreer As-Sudan) is now a political party. It joined the government as part of the peace agreement, gaining about one-third of government positions. On October 11, 2007, the SPLM withdrew from the government, alleging violations of the peace agreement; this raised concerns about the future of the agreement.[1]

[edit] Structure of SPLA

Top Leaders of the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) In Order of Rank;

  1. General Salva Kiir Mayardit, Commander-in-Chief of SPLA
  2. Lt Gen. Oyai Deng Ajak,Chief of General Staff
  3. Lt. Gen. Paulino Matip Nhial, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of SPLA

The SPLA also has 5 deputy Chiefs of Staff, all at Maj.Gen. ranks.

During the Second Sudanese Civil War the SPLA provided training teams to the large groups of boys who fled to Ethipoia between 1983 and 1990. John Garang named these the "Red Army".[citation needed]

[edit] US support

In 1996 the US sent nearly $20 million worth of military equipment through Ethiopia, Eritrea and Uganda to help the Sudanese opposition to overthrow Bashir (president of Sudan). US officials denied that the aid was destined for the SPLA, but there were reports elsewhere that elite US forces were working with the Sudanese rebel army.[2][3]

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Southern Sudan party pulls out of unity government", Associated Press (International Herald Tribune), October 11, 2007.
  2. ^ "John Garang", The Times. Retrieved on 2007-08-16. 
  3. ^ "Sudan", Boston Globe. Retrieved on 2007-08-16. 

[edit] External links

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Political parties in Sudan Flag of Sudan
Portal:Politics - List of political parties - Politics of Sudan