Ex-presidential advisor responds to amnesty after rebellion
Article
Comments (15)
email Email
print Print
pdfSave
separation
increase
decrease
separation
separation
By Ngor Arol Garang
October 2, 2011 (JUBA) - Sultan Abdel Bagi Ayii Akol a former
presidential advisor to South Sudan’s president, Salva Kiir, has
accepted his offer of an amnesty and called off his rebellion against
the government of the fledgling country .
JPEG - 15.6 kb
Sultan Abdel Bagi Ayii Akol (SMC)
Ayii is the third high ranking dissident to respond to Kiir’s amnesty,
which he reiterated when he became the independent Republic of South
Sudan’s first president on July 9.
His return follows Colonel Gatluak Gai, General Peter Gadet and David
Yauyau in accepting the amnesty and either integrating their forces in
to South Sudan army the SPLA, or disarming.
Former SPLA General George Athor Deng continues to lead the most
significant rebellion in Unity and Jonglei state. Other active rebel
groups include Koang and Oliny whose forces launched a surprising and
devastating attack on Malakal town, capital of the Upper Nile state,
on 12 March 2011, resulting into the death of a nearly 100 people
including civilians.
The aging Ayii, who returned on Friday, via Nairobi, Kenya, announced
his rebellion in 2010 in Khartoum, weeks after departing Juba
allegedly for medical leave following disagreements with President
Salva Kiir over national politics including endorsing a candidacy of
General Paul Malong Awan Anei for gubernatorial position in his home
state of Northern Bahr el Ghazal.
He also claimed president Kiir was neither listening nor taking
appropriate actions on advice he offered as presidential advisor on
peace, border and traditional affairs. The one-time member of the
presidential electoral campaign team during the 2010 chaotic general
elections demanded 30% representation for Muslims at all levels of
government including judicial system the legislative assemblies. He
also demanded establishment of special courts for Muslims in South
Sudan.
However, as rebel, Ayii manage to capture significant territory in his
home region of Northern Bahr el Ghazal, which borders the northern
Sudanese region of Darfur.
He is reported to have helped other active rebel groups in
coordinating financial assistance and logistical support from their
political sympathisers. Juba has repeatedly claimed Khartoum has
backed South Sudan’s rebels both before and after independence on July
9. Khartoum has always denied this.
Ayii had attempted to fight a war through the media issuing combative
and repeated warnings urging civilians along the North-South border to
leave the area. He claimed that it was only a matter of time before
his forces would take over most parts of greater Bahr el Ghazal which
he would use as base for launching offensive attacks against Juba.
Reacting to his return, Daniel Awet Akot, the deputy speaker of the
National Assembly said welcomed rebel groups who are responding to the
amnesty offer.
"The government is welcoming all rebel groups. The amnesty which the
president offered to them is still valid. This signifies commitment of
the government of South Sudan to making peace and reconcile with those
political dissidents”, said Akot.
"I only heard that Sultan Abdel Bagi Ayii Akol has returned and his
now in Juba with us. This is good decision I congratulate him and the
people of Mading Aweil for bringing him", said Akot.
"I welcome his return", he added.
Sudan Tribune twice attempted to interview Ayii but both times found
that he was sleeping at his residence.
(ST)
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "JFD
info" group.
To post to this group, send email to [email protected].
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
[email protected].
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/jfdinfo?hl=en.
