William Nyuon Bany was a Southern Sudanese politician who was also a high-ranking officer in 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...

. While he worked as a commander of the SPLA he lived in Itang

Itang

Itang is a town in the Gambela Region in western Ethiopia. Located on the Baro River, this town has a latitude and longitude of with an elevation of 480 meters above sea level....

 a small Ethiopian town in the Gambela Region

Gambela Region

Gambela is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia. Previously known as "Region 12", its capital is Gambela. Lying between the Baro and Akobo Rivers, the western part of Gambela includes the Baro salient....

. He was older than Dr. John Garang

John Garang

John Garang de Mabior was a Sudanese politician and rebel leader. From 1983 to 2005, he led the Sudan People's Liberation Army during the Second Sudanese Civil War, and following a peace agreement he briefly served as First Vice President of Sudan from January 2005 until he died in a July 2005...

, Salva Kiir, Arok Thon Arok

Arok Thon Arok

Arok Thon Arok was a politician from Southern Sudan. He first served in the Sudanese military before he joined the Sudan People's Liberation Army in 1983. He joined the Sudan government after his satisfaction with Sudan People Liberation Army...

.

Brief Biography

Commander Willima was a Nuer from Ayot. He was also related to the Dinka. He spoke Nuer, Arabic, Ethiopian and a little English.

Military career

It is not clear whether Commander William was part of the Anyanya 1, however before the war broke out in Southern Town of Bor, He was in Ayot as a major in the Sudanese army. He served as a commander in Sudan for a long time before he joined the rebellion in 1983. Commander William Nyuon Bany and Kerubino Kuanyin Bol were two founder of SPLA before DR Garang Mabior Atem Join them. He was a man of zeal, courage and bravery. After he joined the SPLA he was appointed the 3rd high-ranking Commander after Kerubino Kuanyin Bol. Commander Salva was the 4th after William Nyuon Bany. Commander William Nyuon was also the Chief of Staff then a position currently occupied by Commander James Hoth Mai. William Nyuon was known for his commitment to the cause of South Sudan. Below is the list of the SPLA High Command Unit of which CDR. William Nyuon was a member.
SPLM/A Leadership Biography

The line of succession was already determined by each individual's senior in the POLITICO- MILITARY HIGH COMMAND. Below is the list according to their seniority
1. Cdr Dr John Garang

John Garang

John Garang de Mabior was a Sudanese politician and rebel leader. From 1983 to 2005, he led the Sudan People's Liberation Army during the Second Sudanese Civil War, and following a peace agreement he briefly served as First Vice President of Sudan from January 2005 until he died in a July 2005...

,
2. Cdr Kerubino Kuanyin Bol
3. Cdr William Nyuon Bany

William 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...

4. Cdr Salva Kiir Mayardit

Salva Kiir Mayardit

Salva Kiir Mayardit is the first President of the Republic of South Sudan.-Sudanese civil wars:In the late 1960s, Kiir joined the Anyanya in the First Sudanese Civil War. By the time of the 1972 Addis Ababa Agreement, he was a low-ranking officer...

5. Cdr Arok Thon Arok

Arok Thon Arok

Arok Thon Arok was a politician from Southern Sudan. He first served in the Sudanese military before he joined the Sudan People's Liberation Army in 1983. He joined the Sudan government after his satisfaction with Sudan People Liberation Army...

6 Cdr Nyacigak Nyaculuk
7. Cdr John Kualang
8. Cdr Dr 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...

 Teny
9. Cdr Dr 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...

 Ajawin
10 Cdr Yusif Kuwa Mekki
11. Cdr James Wani Igga
12.Cdr Daniel Awet Akot
13. Cdr Kuol Manyang Juk
14. Cdr Martin Manyiel Ayuel
15. Cdr Lual Diing Wol
16. Cdr Gelario M
---- After split of the SPLM/A movement 1991 the SPLA Highest Tough commanders was known as group 7.
1* CDR Dr John Garang

John Garang

John Garang de Mabior was a Sudanese politician and rebel leader. From 1983 to 2005, he led the Sudan People's Liberation Army during the Second Sudanese Civil War, and following a peace agreement he briefly served as First Vice President of Sudan from January 2005 until he died in a July 2005...

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2* CDR William Nyuon Bany
3* CDR Salva Kiir Mayardit

Salva Kiir Mayardit

Salva Kiir Mayardit is the first President of the Republic of South Sudan.-Sudanese civil wars:In the late 1960s, Kiir joined the Anyanya in the First Sudanese Civil War. By the time of the 1972 Addis Ababa Agreement, he was a low-ranking officer...

4* CDR Yusif Kuwa Mekki
5* CDR James Wani Igga
6* CDR Daniel Awet Akot
7* CDR Kuol Manyang Juk

Internecine Fighting in Southern Sudan

Commander William Nyuon Bany fought as an SPLA commander. In 1991 a split took place in the SPLA. Dr. Riek Machar and Dr. Lam Akol created their own group known then as "Nasir SPLA Section". While Commander Nyuon was still with Dr. John Garang, he would later leave Garang's SPLA in 1992 at town of pageri now locate in central Equatoria State as well. He did, however, try to rejoin Garang's SPLA but was killed by one of the groups belonging to the South Sudanese armies Base in Bentiu Under command by Young High commander Peter Gatdet He captain. He is survived by a number of children most of whom live in the United States of America in Nebraska, Utah and Territories of Canada. Commander William Nyuon Bany was killed in 1996 in South Sudan.

Peace Efforts & Negotiations

Commander William Nyuon Bany exerted efforts to help reach a solution for Sudan while he was living in Ethiopia as a member of the SPLA. He also supported the merging of the SPLA and Anyany 2 in 1987. Commander William Nyuon visited Egypt in 1989 where he met hundreds of Sudanese students. He was fluent in Arabic and he encouraged many students to support the cause for freedom in Sudan. Dr. John Garang favored William Nyuon for his zeal, commitment and the fact that he was not a tribalist. He was a Southern Sudanese patriot who loved his people and the integrity of his land. The facts related to his death continue to be confusing as to who exactly was involved in his assassination. It is alleged that Nyuon Bany was killed by mainly Nuer according to the eyes witness, as during the 90's tribal tensions between the Nuer and the Dinka were very high. With the SPLA ruling elite composed of mostly Dinka officers, William Nyuon rejoining the SPLA must have looked very dangerous to the Nuer. Nyoun's bodyguards were also killed in the attack.