Kerubino Kuanyin
Encyclopedia
Kerubino Kuanyin Bol was one of the leaders of the Sudan People's Liberation Army
(SPLA) during the Second Sudanese Civil War
(1983-2005).
He was said to have fired the first shot in that conflict, which flared up when the Khartoum
government of Sudan
imposed Muslim Sharia
law on the Christian or animist people of South Sudan
.
In 1955 a battalion of southern soldiery mutinied, forming the nucleus of the Anyanya
rebels in the First Sudanese Civil War
, which continued until the south was granted regional autonomy under the Addis Ababa Agreement in 1972.
Kerubino joined the Anyanya and stayed on in the armed forces after the civil war ended.
, Kenya
, and joined the SPLA as a field commander.
In 1986 Kerubino was deputy commander-in-chief of the SPLA and deputy chairman of the SPLM provisional executive committee.
In 1987 he led a successful attack on several towns in Blue Nile
province to the north of South Sudan.
Growing over-ambitious, he was accused of plotting a coup against Garang and was jailed for the next six years.
, Lam Akol
and Gordon Kong announced that John Garang had been ejected from the SPLM. They formed a rival militia called the SPLA-Nasir
after their base in the town of Nasir.
Kerubino escaped and joined Riek Machar
in 1993, with his Dinka forces making an important addition to the formerly Nuer-dominated SPLA-Nasir. Kerubino became deputy Commander in Chief.
Although seeking independence for South Sudan, the group received covert support from the Government of Sudan as it fought the SPLA between 1991 and 1999 in attacks that became increasingly violent and ethnically motivated.
from his South Sudan Independence Movement (SSIM) on the basis that they had signed military and political agreements with the government of Sudan late in the previous year, and that they had attempted to form a government-supported faction in the SSIM.
The Sudan government tried to make Kerubino a leader in his home province, but he was not successful in gaining support of the local Dinka, and members of his militia returned to their villages.
In January 1998 Kerubino's forces briefly seized Wau, the main town in Bahr al Ghazal.
From this strong position, he applied to rejoin the SPLA.
He was accepted, but assigned to a headquarters position rather than a field appointment.
In disgust, he returned to the Sudan Government and in 1999 joined to the South Sudan United Army, a militia headed by Paulino Matip.
That year Commander Peter Gadet
fell out with Paulino Matip. During the struggles that followed Kerubino Kuanyin Bol was shot in obscure circumstances on 10 September 1999. He left several wives and more than 20 children.
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) during 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....
(1983-2005).
He was said to have fired the first shot in that conflict, which flared up when 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"...
government of Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
imposed Muslim Sharia
Sharia
Sharia law, is the moral code and religious law of Islam. Sharia is derived from two primary sources of Islamic law: the precepts set forth in the Quran, and the example set by the Islamic prophet Muhammad in the Sunnah. Fiqh jurisprudence interprets and extends the application of sharia to...
law on the Christian or animist people of South Sudan
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...
.
Early years
Kerubino was born in 1948 of Dinka parents in Twic County, Bahr al Ghazal province in the west of South Sudan. He was educated at a Roman Catholic mission primary school, and went on to intermediate studies.In 1955 a battalion of southern soldiery mutinied, forming the nucleus of the Anyanya
Anyanya
The Anyanya were a southern Sudanese separatist rebel army formed during the First Sudanese Civil War . A separate movement that rose during the Second Sudanese Civil War were, in turn, called Anyanya II...
rebels in the First Sudanese Civil War
First Sudanese Civil War
The First Sudanese Civil War was a conflict from 1955 to 1972 between the northern part of Sudan and the southern Sudan region that demanded representation and more regional autonomy...
, which continued until the south was granted regional autonomy under the Addis Ababa Agreement in 1972.
Kerubino joined the Anyanya and stayed on in the armed forces after the civil war ended.
SPLA commander
In June 1983 Colonel John Garang de Mabior led a mutiny of the garrison of Bor, forming the SPLA in October 1983. Kerubino, now a lieutenant-colonel in the army, sent several of his wives and children to safety in NairobiNairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
, Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, and joined the SPLA as a field commander.
In 1986 Kerubino was deputy commander-in-chief of the SPLA and deputy chairman of the SPLM provisional executive committee.
In 1987 he led a successful attack on several towns in Blue Nile
Blue Nile (state)
Blue Nile called Central from 1991 until 1994, is one of the 15 states of Sudan. It was established by Presidential Decree Nº3 in 1992 and is named after the Blue Nile River. It has an area of 45,844 km² and an estimated population of 1,193,293 . The Central Bureau of Statistics quoted the...
province to the north of South Sudan.
Growing over-ambitious, he was accused of plotting a coup against Garang and was jailed for the next six years.
SSIM commander
In August 1991 Riek MacharRiek Machar
Riek Machar Teny Dhurgon , is the first vice-president of the independent Republic of South Sudan.Riek Machar obtained a PhD in mechanical engineering in 1984 and then joined the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army during the Second Sudanese Civil War...
, Lam Akol
Lam Akol
Dr. Lam Akol Ajawin is a South Sudanese politician of Kenyan descent. He is the current leader of SPLM for Democratic Change , which he founded 6 June 2009...
and Gordon Kong announced that John Garang had been ejected from the SPLM. They formed a rival militia called the SPLA-Nasir
SPLA-Nasir
The SPLA-Nasir was a splinter faction of the Sudan People's Liberation Army , a rebel group that fought in the Second Sudanese Civil War. Originally created as an attempt by Nuer Tribe to replace SPLA leader John Garang in August 1991, it gradually became coopted by the government...
after their base in the town of Nasir.
Kerubino escaped and joined Riek Machar
Riek Machar
Riek Machar Teny Dhurgon , is the first vice-president of the independent Republic of South Sudan.Riek Machar obtained a PhD in mechanical engineering in 1984 and then joined the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army during the Second Sudanese Civil War...
in 1993, with his Dinka forces making an important addition to the formerly Nuer-dominated SPLA-Nasir. Kerubino became deputy Commander in Chief.
Although seeking independence for South Sudan, the group received covert support from the Government of Sudan as it fought the SPLA between 1991 and 1999 in attacks that became increasingly violent and ethnically motivated.
Government ally
Early in 1995 Riek dismissed Kerubino and Commander William Nyuon BanyWilliam Nyuon Bany
William Nyuon Bany was a Southern Sudanese politician who was also a high-ranking officer in The Sudan People's Liberation Army. While he worked as a commander of the SPLA he lived in Itang a small Ethiopian town in the Gambela Region. He was older than Dr. John Garang, Salva Kiir, Arok Thon...
from his South Sudan Independence Movement (SSIM) on the basis that they had signed military and political agreements with the government of Sudan late in the previous year, and that they had attempted to form a government-supported faction in the SSIM.
The Sudan government tried to make Kerubino a leader in his home province, but he was not successful in gaining support of the local Dinka, and members of his militia returned to their villages.
In January 1998 Kerubino's forces briefly seized Wau, the main town in Bahr al Ghazal.
From this strong position, he applied to rejoin the SPLA.
He was accepted, but assigned to a headquarters position rather than a field appointment.
In disgust, he returned to the Sudan Government and in 1999 joined to the South Sudan United Army, a militia headed by Paulino Matip.
That year Commander 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....
fell out with Paulino Matip. During the struggles that followed Kerubino Kuanyin Bol was shot in obscure circumstances on 10 September 1999. He left several wives and more than 20 children.