SOUTHERN SUDAN: A TENSE CALM RETURNS TO JONGLEI,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 001324

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/SPG

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/05/2016
TAGS: PGOV PINS PHUM MOPS SU
SUBJECT: SOUTHERN SUDAN: A TENSE CALM RETURNS TO JONGLEI,
UPPER NILE

REF: (A.) KHARTOUM 1163 (B) KHARTOUM 482 (C) KHARTOUM

292

Classified By: CGJ RWhitehead for reasons 1.5 (B) and (D)


1. (SBU) Summary. Two security hotspots in Jonglei and
Upper Nile have calmed, according to UNMIS security officers.
Fighting between the SPLA and the Lou Nuer militia known as
the White Army has abated, and GoSS-approved disarmament
continues. In Fangak, a power struggle between the local
SPLM Commissioner favored by the Governor of Jonglei State
and his rival, who has ties to the Government in Khartoum,
has concluded with the latter the winner. Tensions remain in
both areas, but for now, at least, a tense calm prevails.
End Summary.

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SPLA vs. White Army
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2. (SBU) The UNMIS Sector I Security Chief briefed CG on an
improving security situation in northern Jonglei and the
Upper Nile. Fighting between an estimated 9,000 SPLA troops
and the 20,000 strong Lou Nuer militia, known as the White
Army, has ceased. UNMIS missions launched from Malakal in
Sector III on May 27 and 28 confirmed that the SPLA is in
control of the areas surrounding Waat, Ayod, Walgah, Pieri
and Yuai, formerly the scene of fighting between the SPLA and
White Army forces. There are accusations that the SPLA
torched villages during the fighting.


3. (SBU) Initial reports that Jonglei Governor Philip Thon
Leek ordered the forced disarmament of migrating Lou Nuer,
which sparked the conflict, were not correct, according to
UNMIS. SPLA Generals George Athor and Peter Bol Kong
confirmed that they had acted under orders from the GoSS in
Juba, a claim that has been corroborated. The disarmament
continues, with large numbers of White Army fighters
surrendering (one of) their weapons. UNMIS says that the
heavy nature of some of the weaponry ) machineguns and
rocket launchers ) belies White Army claims that they were a
lightly armed militia and did not belong in the category of
other armed groups (OAGs).


4. (SBU) While tense but peaceful armament moves apace, the
biggest challenge is a remnant SSDF force based near Yuai.
Loyal to Gen. Simon Gatwick, now in Juba with the SPLA, this
group claims to be SPLA but has never been integrated into
SPLA structures. Due to historical affinities with the White
Army, this force opposes the disarmament program. The major
UNMIS concern is the consequences of an overly aggressive
SPLA disarmament campaign, which would risk the Lou Nuer
making common cause with other remnant OAGs in the region,
notably Ismael Konyi,s Murle militia in Pibor and Thomas
Mabor,s forces in Pulturk and Dolleib Hill.

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A Fangak Reconciliation
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5. (SBU) A reconciliation conference in Fangak that ended on
May 24 resolved the struggle between Gabriel Tan Ginye and
John Malwit as to who would emerge as the choice of the
Fangak people. Malwit, who was named by the Governor of
Jonglei, refused to participate in the conference, which
selected Tan Ginye as the people,s choice. Speakers
nonetheless made it clear that Tan Ginye,s former alliance
with the Northern Government and the SAF were unacceptable,
and that he needed to publicly switch to the GoSS/SPLA. Tan
Ginye said he would consult with his forces before deciding.
Mediator John Kong has offered Tan Ginye safe passage to Juba
to discuss his plans with the GoSS. Governor Thon Leek has
rejected the defeat of his candidate and said that he would
refer the issue to Juba. For now, peace holds in Fangak.

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Elsewhere
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6. (SBU) Another UNMIS assessment mission to Nasr revealed
that tensions there have subsided, permitting UNMIS to lower
the security level from IV to II. Mading remains at Level
IV, but reports from the ground indicate that conditions are
such that an assessment mission is possible there to
ascertain if the security level should be lowered. UNMIS
reported no activity by the Lord,s Resistance Army (LRA) in
Sector I save for a group of presumed armed LRA fighters
entering the village of Gangura, near Yambio. Villagers who
fled at the approach returned to find that their houses were
not looted ) only some foodstuffs were taken ) and that no

KHARTOUM 00001324 002 OF 002


locals were abducted. UNMIS concluded that this force
entered Sudan from the Garamba Park in Congo, probably driven
by hunger.

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Conclusion
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7. (SBU) There have been some disagreement within the UN
over conflict between the White Army and SPLA. The Civic
Action Office criticized the SPLA for the violence spawned by
its attempts at forced disarmament and for human rights
violations, and charged that UNMIS should have intervened
with the GoSS early on to halt all involuntary disarmament.
UNMIS countered that it had not gone soft on the GoSS, which
could not be expected to stand by while 20,000 armed Lou Nuer
forced their way into the territory of other groups, setting
the stage for even broader confrontation. There is also
controversy within SPLM circles, with some arguing that the
disarmament campaign was overly robust and targeted the Nuer
at the expense of other ethnic groups.
STEINFELD