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The South Sudan Defence Force: patriots, collaborators or spoilers?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 November 2007

Matthew B. Arnold
Matthew B. Arnold*
Affiliation:
Department of International Relations, London School of Economics, Houghton Street, London WC2A 2AE, UK
*
Email: m.b.arnold@lse.ac.uk
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Abstract

Despite stipulations in the Sudan's 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that all ‘other armed groups’ be demobilised by January 2006, the South Sudan Defence Force (SSDF) continued to maintain a significant armed presence in South Sudan. This paper analyses the dynamics of the organisation, the impact of its ongoing presence on the security situation and reconstruction efforts, and attempts by the government of South Sudan to counteract the SSDF from January to August 2006. It argues that the strategies implemented by the government to counter the SSDF were fairly successful in that there was no major return to conflict. However, it concludes that the SSDF's continued presence, while hindered, has the potential to spark a return to civil war.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Modern African Studies , Volume 45 , Issue 4 , December 2007 , pp. 489 - 516
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2007

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References

REFERENCES

Arnold, M. & Alden, C.. 2007. ‘“This gun is our food”: demilitarising the White Army militias of South Sudan’, Conflict, Security and Development 7, 3: pp. 361–85.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
De Waal, A. 2004. ‘Counter-insurgency on the cheap’, London Review of Books 5 August 26, 15, 5 August.Google Scholar
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Newspapers (all published in Juba)

Juba Post; The Southern Eye; Sudan Mirror.

Named interviews

Aduok, Peter: Member of Sudan Parliament, Malakal, Upper Nile State, 16.7.2006.

Gatkouth, Gathoth: Nasir County Commissioner, previously SSDF spokesman under Maj. Gen. Matip, Nasir, Upper Nile State, 23.7.2006.

Kun, Stephen Pal, Longochuk County Commissioner, Malakal, 11.8.2006.

Lam, Charles, SPLA Brig. General, Nasir, 24.7.2006.

Nyawelo, Anthony, SPLM Security Advisor for Upper Nile State, Malakal, 11 & 14.8.2006.

United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS): briefs, briefings and anonymous interviews

UNMAC Brief. ‘Security Related Events in Jonglei during May and June 2006’, 5.7.2006 (UNMAC is UNMIS's political analysis unit).

UNMIS briefing on security/political situation by UNMIS military officers at Sector III Headquarters, Malakal, 9.8.2006.

UNMIS Mediation Briefs, official notes of UNMIS Sector 3 Area Joint Military Committee 10/06, 16.5.2006; 11/06, 30.5.2006; 13/06, 27.6.2006, Malakal.

UNMIS official, Malakal, Upper Nile State, 17.7.2006.

UNMIS official, Malakal, 19.7.2006.

UNMIS official, Malakal, 6.8.2006.

UNMIS official, Malakal, 9.8.2006.

SSDF: press releases and anonymous interviews

SSDF. 5.3.2006. ‘SSUDA Press Release: Jarch Group seeks pipeline routes from South Sudan oil fields.’ <http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article14370&var_recherche=SSDF%20oil%20>

SSDF. 16.4.2006. ‘SSDF Press Release: SPLM/A declares genocidal war against civilian in greater Upper Nile region.’ <http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article15091&var_recherche=SSDF%2014%20april%202006>

SSDF officer, Nairobi, Kenya, 3.7.2006.

SSDF officer, Nairobi, Kenya, 4.7.2006.

SSDF officer, Nairobi, Kenya, 6.7.2006.

SSDF officer, Malakal, 18.7.2006,.

SSDF soldier, Malakal, 19.7.2006.

Murle SSDF officer, Malakal, 19.7.2006.

SSDF officer, Ketbek, Upper Nile State, 23.7.2006.

SSDF officer, Nasir, Upper Nile State, 23.7.2006.

SSDF officers, Ketbek, Upper Nile State, 24.7.2006.

SSDF officers, Nasir, Upper Nile State, 24.7.2006.

SSDF soldiers, Ketbek, Upper Nile State, 24.7.2006.

SSDF soldier, Ketbek, Upper Nile State, 27.7.2006.

SSDF soldier, Malakal, 29.7.2006.

SSDF officers, Malakal, 29.7.2006.

SSDF officers and soldiers, Ketbek, Upper Nile State, 30.7.2006.

SSDF officer, Nasir, Upper Nile State, 30.7.2006.

SSDF soldier, Ketbek, Upper Nile State, 31.7.2006.

SSDF officer, Ketbek, Upper Nile State, 31.7.2006.

SPLA/SPLM: communiqué and anonymous interviews

SPLA. 2006. SPLA Communiqué addressed to the SPLA Chief of Staff, Lt. General Oyay Deng Ajak from SPLA General Headquarters, Juba, 4.2.2006.

SPLM official, Upper Nile State Assembly, Malakal, Upper Nile State, 2.8.2006.

SPLA general officer, Malakal, 3.8.2006.

SPLM official, Panyikang County government, Malakal, 3.8.2006.

SPLM official, Longochuk County government, Malakal, 11.8.2006.

SPLM official, Jonglei State government, Akobo, Jonglei State, 22.8.2006.

Other anonymous interviews

Murle civilians, Lokongole, Jonglei State, 23.8.2006.

Tribal leaders of northern Murle communities, Lokongole, Jonglei State, 23.8.2006.

Ex-White Army militiamen, Akobo, Jonglei State, 22.8.2006.