South Sudan Liberation Movement
Encyclopedia
The South Sudan Liberation Movement (SSLM) is an armed group that operates in the Upper Nile Region in southern Sudan
. The group's creation was announced in November 1999 by people of the Nuer ethnicity who were in both the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Army
(SPLA) and the government-allied South Sudan Defense Force (SSDF) gathered in Waat
. The SSLM was declared to be unaligned in the Second Sudanese Civil War
, then entering its sixteenth year. The name "South Sudan Liberation Movement" was decided upon the next year, borrowing from the earlier Southern Sudan Liberation Movement, which existed in the 80's.
and Paulino Matip. As Riek was being defeated, opposing government-aligned militias attacked civilians around the oilfields in Southern Sudan, causing a stream of Nuer refugees to flee towards SPLA-controlled Bahr al-Ghazal for protection. At least two previously pro-government Nuer militias aligned themselves with the SPLA, while the few Nuer loyal to the politically weakened Riek began to abandon the government's cause. The fact that Nuer refugees were being protected by the Dinka-dominated SPLA led to an unusual conference in Wunlit, sponsored by the New Sudan Council of Churches
and the safety of which was guaranteed by the SPLA. Groups of Western Nuer and Dinka from Tonj
, Rumbek
and Yirol
took part, leading to a peace agreement in March 1999 to end the ethnic fighting. The creation of the SSLM was accompanied by the announcement that most of the Nuer had formally broken away from the government. Between November 1999 and January 2000, the group was known as the Upper Nile Provisional Military Command Council (UMCC).
of January 9, 2005, was seen by the SSLM as promising nothing new differing from past treaties only in its observance by the international community.
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...
. The group's creation was announced in November 1999 by people of the Nuer ethnicity who were in both the rebel 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-allied South Sudan Defense Force (SSDF) gathered in Waat
Waat
Waat is a village in South Sudan. It is located in Akobo County, Jonglei State, in the northeastern part of South Sudan. It is connected by road to Faddoi just to the southeast...
. The SSLM was declared to be unaligned in 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....
, then entering its sixteenth year. The name "South Sudan Liberation Movement" was decided upon the next year, borrowing from the earlier Southern Sudan Liberation Movement, which existed in the 80's.
Background
The SSLM was formed in the context of widespread factional fighting among the Western Nuer ethnic group of Unity, Sudan, who had signed a peace treaty with the government on 21 April 1997. The pro-government SSDF militia, comprising a large number of Nuer, had divided into warring factions led by 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...
and Paulino Matip. As Riek was being defeated, opposing government-aligned militias attacked civilians around the oilfields in Southern Sudan, causing a stream of Nuer refugees to flee towards SPLA-controlled Bahr al-Ghazal for protection. At least two previously pro-government Nuer militias aligned themselves with the SPLA, while the few Nuer loyal to the politically weakened Riek began to abandon the government's cause. The fact that Nuer refugees were being protected by the Dinka-dominated SPLA led to an unusual conference in Wunlit, sponsored by the New Sudan Council of Churches
New Sudan Council of Churches
The New Sudan Council of Churches is an organization comprising six churches located in Southern Sudan: the Roman Catholic Church, Episcopal Church of the Sudan, Presbyterian Church of Sudan, African Inland Church, Sudan Pentecostal Church, and Sudan Interior Church...
and the safety of which was guaranteed by the SPLA. Groups of Western Nuer and Dinka from Tonj
Tonj
-Location:The town is located in Tonj South County, Warrap State, in northwest South Sudan. Its location lies approximately , by road, northwest of Juba, the capital and largest city in the country....
, Rumbek
Rumbek
Rumbek is a town in South Sudan.-Location:The town of Rumbek is located in Rumbek Central County, Lakes State in central South Sudan. This location lies approximately , by road, northwest of Juba, the capital and largest city in that country. Rumbek sits at an elevation of above sea level...
and Yirol
Yirol
-Location:It is located in Yirol West County, Lakes State, in central South Sudan. Its location lies approximately , by road, northwest of Juba, the largest city in South Sudan and the capital of that country. The coordinates of Yirol are: 6° 33' 36.00"N, 30° 30' 36.00"E .-Overview:Yirol is a small...
took part, leading to a peace agreement in March 1999 to end the ethnic fighting. The creation of the SSLM was accompanied by the announcement that most of the Nuer had formally broken away from the government. Between November 1999 and January 2000, the group was known as the Upper Nile Provisional Military Command Council (UMCC).
Political stance
The SSLM claimed that it followed "two avenues to assert the rights of the people of South Sudan to freedom and self-determination". The group stated that it was in favor of negotiation with the government of Sudan until an acceptable peace-accord is signed and the government stops its raids in southern Sudan, but 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 January 9, 2005, was seen by the SSLM as promising nothing new differing from past treaties only in its observance by the international community.