Juba Declaration of 8 January 2006
Encyclopedia
The Juba Declaration of 8 January 2006, formally the Juba Declaration on Unity and Integration between the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) And the South Sudan Defence Forces (SSDF) January 8, 2006, laid out the basis for unifying rival military forces in South Sudan
following the end of the Second Sudanese Civil War
in January 2005.
of 9 January 2005 ended hostilities between the Sudan People's Liberation Army
(SPLA) and the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF), and laid the framework for conduct of a referendum that could eventually lead to independence for South Sudan. However, it left unresolved the issue of what would happen to the smaller armed groups, and in particular the South Sudan Defence Forces
(SSDF).
The SSDF had provided security for SAF garrisons and for oilfields in the north of South Sudan, and in return had been provided with arms and ammunition by the SAF, although the SSDF remained deeply suspicious of the Khartoum
-based government.
failed in his approach of trying to defeat the SSDF militarily or to win over SSDF leaders to the SPLA.
Garang died on 30 July 2005 in an air crash. His successor, Salva Kiir, took a fresh approach that emphasized détente, unity and reconciliation. This defused tension and led to the successful agreement on the declaration.
Most SSDF soldiers joined the SPLA, and SSDF chief of staff Major General Paulino Matieb became deputy commander of the SPLA under Salva Kiir as commander.
More than 50,000 of Matip's forces were integrated into the SPLA and other organized forces, but he retained some former SSDF soldiers as a personal bodyguard.
Shortly after the Juba declaration was signed, Brigadier Gordon Kong
proclaimed himself the new SSDF Commander-in-Chief, saying that his forces still supported the Sudan Government. A newspaper report speculated that while Matiep was looking at political opportunities in the Government of South Sudan, Kong was looking at potential gains from control of the oil-rich Bentiu
area.
Some former SSDF soldiers became dissatisfied later. General Peter Gadet
, who joined the SPLA after Juba Declaration, said that he was marginalized and that the army was dominated by tribal nepotism. In April 2011 Gadet emerged as leader of the South Sudan Liberation Army (SSLA), a new militia demanding a more broadly-based government.
South Sudan
South Sudan , officially the Republic of South Sudan, is a landlocked country located in the Sahel region of northeastern Africa. It is also part of the North Africa UN sub-region. Its current capital is Juba, which is also its largest city; the capital city is planned to be moved to the more...
following the end of the Second Sudanese Civil War
Second Sudanese Civil War
The Second Sudanese Civil War started in 1983, although it was largely a continuation of the First Sudanese Civil War of 1955 to 1972. Although it originated in southern Sudan, the civil war spread to the Nuba mountains and Blue Nile by the end of the 1980s....
in January 2005.
Background
The Comprehensive Peace AgreementComprehensive Peace Agreement
The Comprehensive Peace Agreement , also known as the Naivasha Agreement, was a set of agreements culminating in January 2005 that were signed between the Sudan People's Liberation Movement and the Government of Sudan...
of 9 January 2005 ended hostilities between the Sudan People's Liberation Army
Sudan People's Liberation Army
The Sudan People's Liberation Movement is a political party in South Sudan. It was initially founded as a rebel political movement with a military wing known as the Sudan People's Liberation Army estimated at 180,000 soldiers. The SPLM fought in the Second Sudanese Civil War against the Sudanese...
(SPLA) and the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF), and laid the framework for conduct of a referendum that could eventually lead to independence for South Sudan. However, it left unresolved the issue of what would happen to the smaller armed groups, and in particular the South Sudan Defence Forces
South Sudan Defence Forces
The South Sudan Defence Forces was a militia in South Sudan during the Second Sudanese Civil War in uneasy alliance with the Government of Sudan....
(SSDF).
The SSDF had provided security for SAF garrisons and for oilfields in the north of South Sudan, and in return had been provided with arms and ammunition by the SAF, although the SSDF remained deeply suspicious of the Khartoum
Khartoum
Khartoum is the capital and largest city of Sudan and of Khartoum State. It is located at the confluence of the White Nile flowing north from Lake Victoria, and the Blue Nile flowing west from Ethiopia. The location where the two Niles meet is known as "al-Mogran"...
-based government.
Agreement
SPLA leader John GarangJohn Garang
John Garang de Mabior was a Sudanese politician and rebel leader. From 1983 to 2005, he led the Sudan People's Liberation Army during the Second Sudanese Civil War, and following a peace agreement he briefly served as First Vice President of Sudan from January 2005 until he died in a July 2005...
failed in his approach of trying to defeat the SSDF militarily or to win over SSDF leaders to the SPLA.
Garang died on 30 July 2005 in an air crash. His successor, Salva Kiir, took a fresh approach that emphasized détente, unity and reconciliation. This defused tension and led to the successful agreement on the declaration.
Most SSDF soldiers joined the SPLA, and SSDF chief of staff Major General Paulino Matieb became deputy commander of the SPLA under Salva Kiir as commander.
More than 50,000 of Matip's forces were integrated into the SPLA and other organized forces, but he retained some former SSDF soldiers as a personal bodyguard.
Later tensions
Tension remained high. In October 2006 Matiep aired accusations that his troops were being sidelined in the appointments being made within the SPLA.Shortly after the Juba declaration was signed, Brigadier Gordon Kong
Gordon Kong Chuol
Gordon Kong Chuol is a former militia commander in South Sudan, who fought for the Sudan People's Liberation Army and later for the forces led by Riek Machar during the Second Sudanese Civil War.-Independence fighter:...
proclaimed himself the new SSDF Commander-in-Chief, saying that his forces still supported the Sudan Government. A newspaper report speculated that while Matiep was looking at political opportunities in the Government of South Sudan, Kong was looking at potential gains from control of the oil-rich Bentiu
Bentiu
-Location:Bentiu is located in Rubkona County, Unity State, in northern South Sudan, near the International border with the Republic of Sudan. This location lies approximately , by road, northwest of Juba, the capital and largest city in the country. Bentiu sits on the southern banks of the Bahr...
area.
Some former SSDF soldiers became dissatisfied later. General Peter Gadet
Peter Gadet
Peter Yak Gadet is a former Sudan People's Liberation Army general who is now the leader of the South Sudan Liberation Army , the largest rebel movement in South Sudan....
, who joined the SPLA after Juba Declaration, said that he was marginalized and that the army was dominated by tribal nepotism. In April 2011 Gadet emerged as leader of the South Sudan Liberation Army (SSLA), a new militia demanding a more broadly-based government.