The SPLA Archive

PAST IN PERSPECTIVE

A Forgotten Hero

Second Lieutenant Anib Marial Dot was killed in action during the Gilo River battle between Ethiopian rebels, Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), and the SPLA. She served as a bodyguard to CDR. Salva Kiir, the current President of South Sudan and Commander-in-Chief of the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF). According to available records, Second Lieutenant Marial may have been the only female officer killed in that battle, though this remains open to verification.

She gave her life in the line of duty when crossing the Gilo River, yet her sacrifice just like her comrades has not received full or fitting recognition from the government. The SSPDF has a moral obligation to acknowledge and honor their service to South Sudan and South Sudanese, along with that of other fallen soldiers whose contributions have been similarly overlooked.

PAST IN PERSPECTIVE

Jundi Iraqi: The Life and Struggle of Late CDR. Peter Gatdet Yaka

1958 – 15 April 2019

Early Life and Military Foundations

Late General Peter Gatdet Yaka was born in 1958 in what is today the Republic of South Sudan. His military journey began in the old Sudan, where he received formal training with the Civil Defense Police. In 1982, he was deployed to Iraq as part of Sudan’s military contingent supporting Iraq during its conflict with Syria. This deployment earned him the nickname “Jundi Iraqi,” a name that would follow him throughout his military career.

Upon his return to Sudan in 1983, Gatdet briefly served as a bodyguard to the District Commissioner of Bentiu, Charles Kuot Chatiem. In 1984, driven by the growing liberation struggle in the South, he joined the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A).

Service within the SPLM/A and the 1991 Split

Within the SPLM/A, Gatdet rose quickly and was initially assigned to protect the movement’s founder and leader, Dr. John Garang de Mabior. However, the 1991 split within the SPLM/A between the Torit faction led by Garang and the Nasir faction led by Dr. Riek Machar, marked a turning point in his career.

Suspected of intending to defect to the Nasir faction, Gatdet was arrested in Kapoeta. He later escaped detention and made his way to Waat, where he joined Machar’s forces. Ironically, he was again arrested; this time accused of being a spy sent to assassinate Machar. After his release, Gatdet was entrusted with command of a task force operating in Eastern Equatoria, fighting SPLM/A loyalists aligned with Garang.

Shifting Allegiances and Armed Movements

General Gatdet’s military career was defined by frequent realignments, reflecting the fractured nature of South Sudan’s armed movements during the liberation and post-liberation periods:

1998: Left the South Sudan Independence Movement/Army (SSIM/A), formerly SPLM/A-Nasir, and joined the South Sudan United Movement/Army (SSUM/A) under Gen. Paulino Matip Nhial.

1999: Defected back to the SPLM/A with a substantial force, significantly weakening Matip’s position.

2002: Returned to SSUM/A following disputes with SPLM/A commanders.

2003: Established his own armed group around Wangkei, collaborating with the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF).

2004–2006: Briefly rejoined the SPLM/A, defected again, and was eventually integrated into the Government of South Sudan following the Juba Declaration.

Post-Independence Role and Renewed Rebellion

After South Sudan gained independence in 2011, Gatdet was assigned to lead disarmament operations in Jonglei State. He was later appointed commander of the SPLA 8th Division, headquartered in Bor.

When civil conflict erupted in December 2013, Gatdet defected once more, joining SPLM/A-In Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) under Dr. Riek Machar. During this period, he led forces that captured Bor town and the SPLA 8th Division headquarters.

By 2015, Gatdet broke away again and revived the SSUM/A. In 2018, he became a signatory to the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) under the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA), eventually serving as its chairman.

Death, Legacy, and Remembrance

General Peter Gatdet Yaka passed away on 15 April 2019. He was succeeded as chairman of the SSOA by his brother-in-law, Gen. Diney Chagor.

Gatdet remains one of the most complex and formidable figures in South Sudan’s military history—renowned for his battlefield courage, strategic skill, and controversial shifts in allegiance. His life mirrors the turbulent path of South Sudan’s liberation struggle and post-independence conflicts.

Despite the controversies surrounding his career, General Peter Gatdet Yaka’s role in shaping the armed and political landscape of South Sudan is undeniable, and his legacy continues to be debated, remembered, and studied.

NOTE:

The SPLA Archive is dedicated to preserving the history and memory of South Sudan’s liberation struggle. It documents the lives, experiences, and contributions of the liberation’s field commanders and fighters, telling their stories as they were—without bias or partisanship. By safeguarding these firsthand accounts, the archive ensures that future generations can understand the complexities, sacrifices, and human dimensions of the struggle for freedom.

From Liberation Heroes to Opposition Figures: Gen. Deng-Wek Kuoirot and the Politics of Defection in South Sudan

"History has taught us that dictators are not talked out of power. They are forcibly walked down to the dustbin of history. This was how Idi Amin of Uganda, Mobutu Seseseko of Zaire and more recently Omar Al Bashir of Sudan and among others were removed," Gen. Deng-Wek Kuoirot.

— PaanLuel Wël

Yesterday, 28 December 2025, Gen. Deng-Wek Kuoirot Deng-Agwek, popularly known during the liberation struggle as Deng-Moch-Arab, announced his resignation from the government and the formation of a new political and military movement, the National Uprising Movement/Army (NUM/A), aimed at dismantling the joint regime of President Kiir and Dr Riek Machar in Juba. The declaration by Gen. Deng-Wek has once again revived an old question of whether elite defections can still produce meaningful change in the South Sudanese politics.

Gen. Deng-Wek is not an ordinary defector. He belongs to the inner circle of the SPLM/A commanders who carried the war of liberation to its conclusion. After the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), Gen. Deng-Wek served as Deputy Chief of Staff under Gen. James Hoth Mai. His nickname, Deng-Moch-Arab—Deng, the Arab shooter—captures both his battlefield reputation and the symbolic capital he still carries among liberation-era constituencies. His defection therefore carries both symbolic and historical weight within the SPLM/A legacy.

Nonetheless, Gen. Deng-Wek’s declaration comes in a political environment saturated with similar high-profile departures from the ruling system that promised rupture but delivered continuity. Deng-Wek’s declaration comes against the backdrop of the recent defection of Hon. Nhial Deng Nhial, another core figure of the SPLM/A revolutionary generation that fought under the late Dr John Garang de Mabior. Nhial Deng, together with Pagan Amum, Deng Alor Kuol, Yasir Arman, Steven Wondu, and others, belonged to the so-called Young Turks of the SPLM/A political wing, young political figures once seen as the intellectual and ideological backbone of the movement.

In this context, the departures of Gen. Thomas Cirillo, Gen. King Paul Malong, and now Hon. Nhial Deng Nhial and Gen. Deng-Wek, despite their towering liberation credentials, are also likely to fall short of making a meaningful dent in Salva Kiir’s entrenched system of power in South Sudan. The question, therefore, is no longer whether elite departures matter, but why they repeatedly fail, and what alternative pathway, if any, remains available to those seeking meaningful change in Salva Kiir’s South Sudan.

The Exhaustion of High-Profile Departures

Since 2013, virtually every elite route to power change has been repeatedly attempted and completely exhausted. Armed rebellion, most notably through Dr Riek Machar’s SPLM-IO, sought to dislodge the regime militarily. Despite moments of battlefield leverage and international mediation, that strategy failed to overthrow the incumbent regime. Instead, it culminated in power-sharing arrangements that reinforced, rather than dismantled, the personalised state structure in Juba.

The SPLM-FD (the “Garang Boys”) pursued a political strategy of international isolation and pressure, but that effort also collapsed. The Garang Boys comprise figures such as Pagan Amum, Deng Alor Kuol, Dr Majak Agoot, Oyai Deng Ajak, Gier Chuang Aluong, Dr. Cirino Hiteng Ofuho etc., who once constituted the “young Turks” of the SPLM’s political wing under Dr John Garang. Their strategy relied on international pressure, moral authority, and reformist credentials. That effort, too, failed to translate into domestic leverage. The FDs have mellowed and melted into Juba and the neighboring countries, bequeathing a rejuvenated President Kiir to the nation.

A third pathway involved succession from within the palace corridors, by cultivating proximity to President Kiir in the hope of inheriting power through internal realignment. From within the system, Gen. Akol Koor Kuch and businessman-turned-politician Benjamin Bol Mel eagerly pursued succession strategies by ingratiating themselves with President Kiir. Both ultimately discovered the limits of personalised systems in which proximity does not guarantee succession, and ambition without institutional protection invites neutralisation. Their downfall reinforced a simple rule of Kiir’s South Sudan in which the system tolerates loyalty, but not alternative centres of gravity.

Against this backdrop, the defections of Deng-Wek and Nhial Deng Nhial do not represent a new phase. They are best understood as the continuation of an exhausted political pattern of high-profile departures in which armed rebellion (SPLM-10), international pressure (SPLM-FDs), elite defections (Chirillo, Malong, Nhail, Deng-Wek), and palace intrigues (Akol Khor and Bol Mel) have all failed.

The Lesson of High-Profile Departures

The failure of these strategies reflects the nature of the South Sudanese state itself, which represents a personalised, extractive state without a governing project. Authority flows through individuals rather than institutions; resources are distributed through loyalty rather than performance; and power reproduces itself through lineage, proximity, and security control rather than law or competence. In such a system, defections, however dramatic, do not weaken the core. They merely rearrange the periphery. Highly decorated Generals without grassroot support, independent financing, or international connections cannot outcompete a regime that controls the security apparatus, state revenue, and international recognition.

The lesson of high-profile departures, from Malong to Cirillo, from Nhial Deng to Deng-Wek, is not that resistance is futile. It is that resistance without design reproduces the very stagnation it seeks to overcome. Meaningful change in South Sudan will not come from new uniforms, new movements, or new slogans. It will come from the slow, painful work of institutional imagination, of building systems before seizing power, of replacing liberation entitlement with administrative competence, and of transforming opposition from performance into governance-in-design.

Anything less will confirm what history has already shown, that South Sudan is not short of heroes, but desperately short of institutions.

PaanLuel Wël ©️ 2025

BREAKING NEWS: Traffic Police Chief Kon John Promoted Amidst Criticism

Major General Kon John, the controversial head of Juba's traffic police, has been promoted to the rank of lieutenant general, sparking speculation about his next role in the police service. Analysts believe this promotion signals a move to a higher post, possibly Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGP) for Traffic, a position typically held by a lieutenant general.

Kon John's promotion comes amid controversy surrounding his tenure, with critics accusing him of perpetuating a culture of impunity and extortion within the traffic police department. Despite this, he has maintained a strong presence and influence within the police service.

The promotion has raised eyebrows, given Kon John's history of defying authority and clashing with superiors. In November 2025, he was transferred to Northern Bahr el Ghazal State as police commissioner, but reportedly refused to take up the post, and was later reinstated as Director of Traffic Police.

What do you think this promotion means for the future of traffic policing in South Sudan, and will it lead to reforms or more controversy?

JUST IN: Family of Veteran South Sudanese Officer Appeals for Urgent Government Intervention

The family of a decorated South Sudanese military officer is pleading for urgent medical assistance and official attention as he fights for his life in a hospital bed, wounded in the line of duty.

Maj. Gen. Makuch Deng Chol, a veteran who has served the nation since the 1980s, remains in critical condition after being shot on December the 22nd. The incident occurred in Billnyang II, where, according to his family, he was attempting to rescue civilians reportedly kidnapped by rebel forces.

The public appeal came via a heartfelt and frustrated Facebook post by his daughter, Abuk Makuch. She detailed her father's decades of service and the perilous circumstances of his injury, stating his survival is now uncertain.

“His condition is critical,” Abuk wrote, shifting her appeal directly to the Higher Military Service and the Government of South Sudan. She cited a profound "lack of adequate medical support and official attention" for the wounded officer and called for authorities to urgently intervene to provide the care he needs.

The post has sparked growing concern among online communities, raising questions about the support systems for soldiers injured in ongoing conflicts within the country. Major Makuch’s situation highlights the personal sacrifices made by military families and the potential aftermath when a servicemember falls.

As of Tuesday, neither the South Sudanese military nor the government has issued an official public response to the family’s appeal or commented on the circumstances of Major Makuch’s injury.

The silence from official channels has left the family in a precarious wait, hoping for action that might secure the treatment needed for the veteran officer’s survival.

ACC for Voices, Views and Vigilance



Credit: Aweil City Courier

Past in Perspective: THE RISE AND FALL OF GEN. GEORGE ATHOR DENG DUT (Jan 1,1962- Dec 19 2011)

BIOGRAPHY

Gen. George Athor Deng Dut was born on 1 January 1962 in Wunlem, Khorfulus area, present-day Jonglei State, South Sudan. He began his formal education at Adong Primary School (1970–1976), continued at Malakal Junior School (1977–1979), and later attended Kassala Secondary School (1980–1982). After successfully passing the Sudan School Certificate Examination, he gained admission to the University of Cairo – Khartoum Branch (1982–1983).

While studying in Khartoum, George Athor became actively involved in student and political activism. In June 1983, inspired by the outbreak of the SPLM/A struggle, he abandoned his university studies and joined the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) to fight for the liberation of South Sudan.

He received his initial military training at Bonga and was commissioned as a Lance Corporal in the SPLA Jamus Battalion in 1983. Due to his education, discipline, and battlefield performance, he rose quickly through the ranks.

MILITARY CAREER AND ACHIEVEMENTS

Early Command and Promotions (1983–1989)

January 1984: Promoted to First Lieutenant.

Participated in major operations, including the attack on Jokau.

Fought against Anyanya II forces in Abuteng.

Commanded Sobat Battalion, later transferred to command Abushok Battalion.

Led from the front and was wounded in May 1987 at NyalikLik.

Promoted to Captain and commanded Mazulum Battalion (1987–1989).

His forces participated in Bright Star Campaign I (BSC I) in the Northern Sector.

Resistance to the Nasir Split (1991–1996)

Played a crucial role in resisting and containing the Nasir SPLA split of August 1991, when senior commanders broke away from the SPLM/A.

April 1992: With the SPLA Taskforce Khorflus, successfully dislodged SPLA-Nasir forces from Baliet, re-establishing SPLA/M presence in the area.

1993: Wounded again while fighting SPLA-Nasir forces at Thep Ngol.

Continued resisting Nasir forces until 1996, demonstrating loyalty to the SPLA/M.

Equatoria and Unity State Operations (1996–2002)

Transferred to Equatoria as commander of Shondok Battalion.

Led operations aimed at capturing Yei and Lainya (1996).

Later transferred to Panaruu, Unity State, where he:

Engaged Sudan Armed Forces (SAF).

Successfully disrupted oil drilling operations in Panthou (Heglig).

Earned a reputation as one of the most effective and daring SPLA field commanders.

Senior Command Roles (2003–2008)

Appointed Division Commander in Upper Nile (2003–2005).

Following the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA):

Promoted to Major General.

Appointed Overall Commander of Jamus Division (2005–2007).

Served as Director for Administration at SPLA General Headquarters, Bilpam (2007–2008).

Strategic and Political Leadership (2008–2010)

Promoted to Lieutenant General by:

The First Vice President,

President of the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS),

Commander-in-Chief of the SPLA.

Appointed Deputy Chief of General Staff for Political and Moral Orientation (PMO).

Played a key role in ideological guidance, morale building, and political education within the SPLA.

POLITICAL STRUGGLE AND FINAL YEARS

In 2010, Gen. George Athor resigned from the SPLA and contested for the Governorship of Jonglei State during the April national elections. After losing the election, he rejected the results and returned to the bush, where he founded the South Sudan Democratic Movement (SSDM).

2010: SSDM forces established control in rural areas of Jonglei State.

January 2011: Reached a ceasefire agreement with the Government of South Sudan to allow for the peaceful conduct of the referendum.

After the referendum, hostilities resumed between SSDM forces and the SPLA.

November 2011: A truce was again reached with the government.

DEATH AND CONTROVERSY

On December 19, 2011, Gen. George Athor Deng Dut was reported killed in Morobo, near the Ugandan–South Sudanese border.

Conflicting accounts surround his death:

Official reports claimed he was killed in a clash with SPLA forces.

Other accounts state he was tricked into traveling to Kampala for secret peace talks, where he was allegedly killed in cold blood, and his body later transported to Morobo to fabricate a battlefield narrative.

At the time, he was reportedly traveling with only one bodyguard, and only two bodies were recovered.

Notably, he had no forces operating in Equatoria, raising further questions about the official version of events.

It is widely acknowledged that President Salva Kiir personally attempted to make peace with Gen. Athor, including meeting him in Kenya. However, allegations persist that elements within Juba, in collaboration with Kampala, conspired to eliminate him during a peace mission—paralleling the fate of Samuel G*i Tut, who was similarly killed under the guise of peace talks.

LEGACY

Gen. George Athor Deng Dut remains one of the most controversial, courageous, and complex figures of South Sudan’s liberation and post-liberation history. He was a soldier-scholar, a battlefield commander, a political actor, and ultimately a tragic symbol of unresolved contradictions within the South Sudanese struggle.

Rest in Peace to Gen. George Athor Deng Dut.
Your story remains etched in the history of our people.

A Life: In Loving Memory of Bona Malwal Madut Ring

Born 1928, Twic State, Anglo-Egyptian Sudan (now South Sudan)
Died:2025

Bona Malwal Madut Ring was a prominent South Sudanese journalist, politician, and intellectual, widely recognized as a lifelong advocate for the self-determination and eventual independence of South Sudan.

Early Life and Education
A member of the Dinka ethnic group,Malwal pursued higher education in the United States. He earned a degree from Indiana University in 1963 and later received both a BA and MA from Columbia University in 1969.

Journalistic Career
Malwal's career began in media,where he used journalism as a platform for his political advocacy. He held the Editor-in-Chief position at several publications, most notably The Vigilant, the mouthpiece of the Southern Front. He also founded the Sudan Democratic Gazette and contributed to other major newspapers like Al Sahafa and The Sudan Times.

Political Career and Advocacy
His journalism seamlessly transitioned into a direct political role.He was a co-founder of the Southern Front and served in various high-level government positions, including:

· Minister of Culture and Information (1973-1978) under President Gaafar Nimeiry.
· Regional Minister of the Southern Sudan Autonomous Region (1980-1981).

A principled figure, Malwal is noted for resigning from his ministerial post in protest against the imposition of Sharia law and Arabic as Sudan's official language following the 1977 National Reconciliation. In the 1990s, while in self-exile, he was a vocal critic of human rights abuses in Sudan.

Later, he served as an Advisor to the President of Sudan, Omar al-Bashir, from 2005 to 2011, a period that covered the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and culminated in South Sudan's independence.

Legacy and Controversy
Bona Malwal played a huge role in the peace negotiations that led to the creation of South Sudan. His career was characterized by a steadfast commitment to the South Sudanese cause, though his tactical alliances with figures like Omar al-Bashir and his critical stance towards some Southern leaders, including John Garang, often generated controversy.

He remains a seminal if complex figure in South Sudanese history; a patriot whose writings and political actions were inextricably linked to the long struggle for freedom. His family continues to be influential in South Sudan's political and diplomatic spheres.