South Sudan Defence Forces
Encyclopedia
The South Sudan Defence Forces (SSDF) was a militia in South Sudan
during the Second Sudanese Civil War
(1983-2005) in uneasy alliance with the Government of Sudan.
The SSDF provided security for Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) garrisons and for oilfields in the north of South Sudan, and in return was given arms and ammunition, although SSDF political leaders remained deeply suspicious of the Khartoum
-based government.
The Comprehensive Peace Agreement
of 9 January 2005 ended hostilities between the Sudan People's Liberation Army
(SPLA) and the government. A year later, the Juba Declaration of 8 January 2006
provided for integration of SSDF soldiers into the SPLA.
The SSDF chief of staff Major General Paulino Matip Nhial
signed the Juba Declaration and was appointed deputy Commander in Chief of the SPLA.
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...
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) in uneasy alliance with the Government of Sudan.
The SSDF provided security for Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) garrisons and for oilfields in the north of South Sudan, and in return was given arms and ammunition, although SSDF political leaders 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.
The Comprehensive Peace Agreement
Comprehensive 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 government. A year later, the Juba Declaration of 8 January 2006
Juba Declaration of 8 January 2006
The Juba Declaration of 8 January 2006, formally the Juba Declaration on Unity and Integration between the Sudan People’s Liberation Army And the South Sudan Defence Forces January 8, 2006, laid out the basis for unifying rival military forces in South Sudan following the end of the Second...
provided for integration of SSDF soldiers into the SPLA.
The SSDF chief of staff Major General Paulino Matip Nhial
Paulino Matip Nhial
Paulino Matip Nhial is a military leader and politician in South Sudan.-Early career:Paulino belongs to the Bul section of the Nuer people....
signed the Juba Declaration and was appointed deputy Commander in Chief of the SPLA.