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2016–2019 Wau clashes

January 01, 1970

2016–2019 Wau clashes
Part of the South Sudanese Civil War, and the ethnic violence in South Sudan

UN protection of civilians (PoC) site in the town of Wau for refugees who were displaced during the fighting. By December 2016 around 29,000 civilians had found shelter there;[11] by July 2017 this number had swelled to 39,000.[12]
Date23 June 2016[13] – 31 January 2019
(2 years, 7 months, 1 week and 1 day)
Location
Wau State, South Sudan
Result

Stalemate; peace agreement

  • Government secures the town of Wau, and most of Wau State
  • Rebel forces maintain control of several areas
Belligerents

Local opposition[1][a]

Luo tribal militias (since Feb. 2017)[b]

Aguok and Apuk tribal militias (since Aug. 2017)[c]

SPLM government

JEM (opposition claim)[10]
Commanders and leaders
Brig. Gen. Augustine Charles[14]
(SPLM-IO commander of Western Bahr el Ghazal)
Maj. Gen. Ashhab Khamis Fahal Ukanda[5][15]
(SPLM-IO commander)
Gissmalla Arnu[16](SPLM-IO commander)
Peter Tingo[17]
(SPLM-IO shadow governor of Wau by June 2016)
Dominic Ukello[18]
(SPLM-IO shadow governor of Wau by early 2017)
Col. Nicola Gabriel Adam[19]
(SPLM-IO spokesman in Wau)
Gen. Faiz Ismail Fatur[6]
(NAS commander of Western Bahr el Ghazal)		 Lt. Gen. Paul Malong Awan[20]
(SPLA Chief of General Staff 2016–17)
Lt. Gen. James Ajonga Mawut[21]
(SPLA Chief of General Staff from 2017)
Elias Waya Nyipuoc (POW)[13]
(Wau governor until 2016)
Andrea Mayan Achor[13]
(Wau governor 2016–17)
Angelo Taban Biajo[22]
(Wau governor from 2017)
Lt. Gen. Gabriel Jok Riak[4]
(5th Division, 2016)
Maj. Gen. Michael Majur Alier[21][23]
(5th Division, c. 2017/18)
Gen. Stephen Buay Rolnyang
(5th Division, c. 2017/18)
Maj. Gen. Keer Kiir Keer
(5th Division, 2018–19)
Brig. Gen. Peter Par Jiek †[24]
Mathok Akec †[25]
Col. Abraham Bol Chut Dhuol †[24]
Gen. Magok Magok[26]
Gen. Thayip Gatluak[27]
Units involved

SPLA-IO

  • Western Bahar Ghazal Lion Forces (WBGLF)[18][28]

SPLA

South Sudan Police Service[30]
Dinka tribal militias[2]
Strength
Several thousand fighters[31][32][33]

Several thousand fighters

Casualties and losses
7,000 defected (gov. claim)[33][35] Unknown
500+ killed[31][1] (as of late June 2016)
70,000[4]–150,000[36][15] displaced

Armed clashes took in Wau State from late June 2016 to January 2019 between the Dinka-dominated Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) and local opposition forces, consisting of tribal Fertit militias as well as fighters claiming allegiance to Riek Machar. It is unclear to what extent these rebels were actually part of the SPLM-IO or acting independently while using the SPLM-IO's name.[37] The clashes resulted in the arrest of the state's governor, Elias Waya Nyipuoc, widespread death and destruction in the state capital, Wau town,[13][1][4] and the displacement of up to 150,000 people.[36]

Background edit

Rivalries and violence between various ethnic groups have a long history in South Sudan. Many minorities in the country believe that their communities are threatened and marginalized by the Dinka people who have traditionally dominated the administration of southern Sudan.[28] The Fertit are one such minority, and mostly concentrated in areas of former Western Bahr el Ghazal, including Wau State.[38] The animosity between Dinka and Fertit became deeply entrenched during the Second Sudanese Civil War,[28] when the Dinka-dominated Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) waged a rebellion against the Sudanese government. Many Fertit opted to stay loyal to Sudan or remain neutral, as they feared suppression at the hands of the Dinka in an independent South Sudan. The SPLA responded by attacking Fertit as perceived enemies of the rebellion,[39] causing militant Fertit to organize the so-called Army of Peace in self-defense. This militia then became involved in widespread massacres of Dinka from 1986, worsening ethnic relations even further.[40]

Increasing violence in Wau State edit

 
Location of Wau State in South Sudan.

In 2015, the South Sudanese government and the SPLM-IO signed the ARCSS peace deal in an attempt to end the civil war. Both sides used concessions in the agreement to their advantage, however, and the agreement gradually fell apart.[41] Wau State was an area which was affected by the ARCSS. The SPLM-IO mobilized forces in Wau, and then demanded that these rebels were granted cantonment zones and be included in the ARCSS' security provisions. This was unacceptable to Gen. Paul Malong Awan, the SPLA's chief of staff, who responded by mobilizing loyal army elements such as Mathiang Anyoor units.[d] He then circumvented the formal chain of command, and ordered these SPLA troops to crush the opposition by force, even though the peace agreement was still in force.[43] This resulted in growing ethnic tensions in Wau State from early December 2015. The SPLA soldiers deployed to the region for counter-insurgency operations mostly belonged to tribes from Northern Bahr el Ghazal and Warrap,[34] while the local SPLM-IO fighters intensified their operations.[44]

On 2 December, the SPLM-IO reportedly attacked government units at Busseri and Firka, causing the SPLA to send reinforcements to these area, which were in turn ambushed and defeated by the rebels.[44] Three days later, clashes between rebel and government fighters broke out around Bisellia, Bazia, Faraj Allah, Bringi,[44] Mapel, and the Bo River Post.[45] Amid the fighting there were reports that the Ugandan People's Defence Air Force[44] and/or the South Sudan Air Force conducted aerial attacks against both rebel as well as civilian targets using attack helicopters.[45] The UNO consequently criticised the SPLA for breaching the national ceasefire by conducting offensive operations.[46]

At the same time, Human Rights Watch reported that the newly deployed government soldiers, mostly Dinka, began to abuse the local Fertit population, forcing tens of thousands to flee Wau. Many civilians were arrested and then murdered as purported SPLM-IO supporters. Governor Elias Waya Nyipuoc admitted that by 30 May 2016, he had confirmed that at least 100 civilians had been murdered by SPLA soldiers, and had reported the cases to the government. Unable to stop them, he said that the soldiers probably abused the local population because the government had failed to pay or feed them. This caused them to rob what they needed. Waya argued that this behavior was to be expected when the government neglected their military forces. The SPLA leadership, meanwhile, denied that any abuses at the hands of SPLA soldiers had taken place in Wau.[34] In addition to the violence of the SPLA against civilians, no progress was made in the attempts to enforce the ceasefire between the SPLA and local SPLM-IO groups, as the government denied that the SPLM-IO had any presence in the whole Bahr el Ghazal region to which Wau State belongs. As result, no agreement for SPLM-IO cantonment areas in Wau State was reached.[47] On 9 April, the SPLA command even announced that they would launch an offensive in Bahr el Ghazal and Equatoria to destroy all SPLM-IO units in these regions.[29]

At the same time, the SPLA soldiers were accused by the opposition of intensifying their abuses of Fertit civilians, while reportedly working together with local Dinka militants and armed cattle herders in their attacks. The violence in Wau further increased in June, as individual Fertit began to fight back by murdering soldiers, policemen and Dinkas. This in turn caused revenge killings by Dinkas and SPLA against Fertit.[31] In addition, insecurity in the state increased dramatically, as local SPLM-IO and SPLA units ignored the ceasefire and clashed on several occasions at Bagari and Angu Angu.[16][48] At least 8 SPLA soldiers were killed,[1] while Raga town in the neighbouring Lol State was overrun by rebels for a short time, resulting in the death of several bodyguards of the local governor.[13]

Clashes edit

Battle in Wau town edit

 
Wau town in 2009

By 23 June, a larger battle south of the state capital, Wau town, broke out between SPLA and SPLM-IO, the latter claiming to fight in order to protect the local Fertit people from attacks by the Dinka-dominated SPLA.[4][5] As result of the increasing violence, a state of emergency was declared in Wau town, and the SPLA's 5th Division moved in, officially to prevent further escalation of violence.[13] These forces were under the command of Lt. Gen. Gabriel Jok Riak, who had been accused of human rights abuses by the United Nations during the South Sudanese Civil War.[4] Governor Waya initially claimed to support the emergency declaration, stating "All who are here are rebels, so the Division [5 of the] SPLA is ready and even those who are just walking around are ready".[13] However, opposition groups claimed that the army soon began to plunder the state capital, and to assault the civilian population, leading Governor Waya to criticise the soldiers.[1] On 24 June 2016, President Kiir unexpectedly sacked Waya,[13] and just a few hours later, had him arrested. A local SPLA commander declared that Waya had been arrested because he was responsible for the deteriorating situation in the state, claiming that he had no respect for the military and talked "nonsense".[49] A few days later, a document began to circulate on the internet that claimed that Lt. Gen. Mangar Buong Aluenge of the SPLA had plotted from the very beginning to remove and arrest Waya,[50] while the Society for Threatened Peoples believed that Waya's criticism of the army had led to his arrest.[1]

As result of Waya's dismissal,[51] the situation escalated completely, as a heavy battle broke out in Wau town[52] on evening of 24 June.[28] Dinka youth militants in civilian clothing and uniforms entered Wau's south-western neighbourhoods, where they murdered and raped Fertit civilians.[28] According to independent and opposition sources, as army soldiers and Dinka militias intensified their attacks on the town's Fertit population, many locals picked up arms and began to fight the pro-government forces.[1][4][31] They were supported by armed Fertit youth from the countryside, who also came into Wau town to take revenge against the Dinkas.[53] The SPLM-IO claimed that their forces had stayed out of Wau town, but attacked SPLA soldiers to protect Fertit civilians in the settlement's southern outskirts.[5] Massacres continued throughout the night,[28] but by late 25 June the SPLA claimed to have secured the town and began to search for hiding insurgents.[52] The army imposed a curfew in Wau town the next day,[54] and, according to local civilians, together with Dinka tribal fighters once again began to kill, rape and rob the local Fertit civilians. These began to flee en masse to the nearby UNMISS base and local churches for protection;[4] others escaped to areas held by SPLM-IO-aligned Fertit militias such as the "Fertit Lions".[28] The government forces, however, maintained that the whole battle was the result of tribal fighters invading the town, whereupon "some greedy civilians started immediately on a looting spree". Accordingly, the army had just defended itself and not preyed on civilians, though army spokesman Lul Rurai Koang said that it was possible that individual soldiers might have participated in the looting.[53]

 
The refugee camp at Wau town's cathedral, where around 8,500 IDPs had found shelter by December 2016.[55]

On 28 June, Wau town was once again attacked by a major force of insurgents, reportedly 350–700 fighters.[3][17] Independent and opposition sources claim that the assailants belonged to a pro-Fertit, SPLM-IO-linked tribal militia,[31][17] while the government said they were part of the "Islamic Movement for Liberation of Raja".[3] This group, government spokesman Makuei Lueth further claimed, wanted establish an Islamic state in the region, but also included members of the Christian Lord's Resistance Army. He accused Sudan of backing them.[2] The assault was eventually repelled,[3] and afterwards Dinka gunmen once again began to loot the town and executed anyone opposing them. While the government claimed that the looters were unrelated criminals, locals believed them to be SPLA soldiers as they wore uniforms.[31][17] UNMISS also said that a total breakdown of law and order had taken place in Wau.[56] A least 30 people were killed while attempting to protect the properties of civilians who fled their homes.[57] After the attackers were driven off, the pro-government mayor of Wau town quickly declared that the town was safe again, but most residents refused to return home. One civilian stated that "Up to now, people are not really secure because some of the soldiers are still moving around."[17]

Meanwhile, the official SPLM-IO leadership attempted to distance itself from the local uprising.[3] It was estimated that the fighting in the Wau State had resulted in over 400 civilians killed,[1] and up to 120,000 displaced.[36] Of these, 12,000 had sought refuge in the local UNMISS base.[2]

On 2 July, the new Governor of Wau, Andrea Mayan, declared that the situation in the state capital had been stabilized, with people being able to return home. A high level committee had been formed to investigate the clashes, and the curfew was lifted.[57] The Guardian, however, reported that by 5 July, only the Dinka-dominated parts of Wau town "were lively. Pick-up trucks mounted with machine guns and full of soldiers toting AK-47s, mostly Dinka, patrolled the area. In contrast, the southern and western parts of town, home to the Fartit, were deserted after people flocked to churches and the UN base for protection."[4]

On 7 July, another battle broke out in Wau town, resulting once again in a civilian mass exodus. By then, it was estimated that 150,000 people had fled Wau town, leaving it mostly deserted. Malaria had broken out among the refugees, most of which were forced to live in the bush. Government and rebel forces blamed each other for the renewed fighting; SPLM-IO Maj. Gen. Ashhab Khamis Fahal Ukanda stated that "They [the government] don't think other people have rights in this country. We all worked together to bring independence of the country. But they have turned against the rest of the people. They think they are born to rule. We will not accept that."[15][58] Three day later, sporadic, small-scale clashes broke out among SPLA units in Wau town.[59]

Fighting in the countryside edit

 
Locations in Wau State where major clashes took place (red) between July 2016 and March 2017.

On 12 July, government forces reportedly launched an offensive against SPLM-IO positions in the whole Wau state, most importantly at Angu Angu, Brenji, Faraj Allah, Bazia and Taban. Heavy fighting also took place in the state capital's direct southern vicinity. While both locals as well as local SPLA commanders confirmed the clashes, army spokesman Lul Ruai denied that any military action took place.[14][60] Whereas the SPLM-IO claimed that they had attempted to evacuate civilians as they had been attacked,[14] the SPLA's 5th Division accused the rebels of attacking Wau town. Moreover, the SPLA stated that they had relocated most of their forces from the state capital to defensive positions at Lokoloko and Jebel Rabi.[60] After heavy fighting throughout 12 July, the SPLM-IO was forced to withdraw from Angu Angu, Brenji and Taban, accusing the SPLA to have arrested 25 civilians from these sites and to have taken them to Wau town.[61]

Governor Mayan announced on 20 July that he planned to initiate a dialogue with the armed opposition groups that still fought against the SPLA in Wau State. Such peace talks, however, would depend on President Kiir's approval.[62] On 23 July, two SPLA soldiers were executed by a firing squad for the murder of a couple in Wau town. The execution was supposed to serve as warning for SPLA soldiers "who used to violet the military regulation, it is also what tell the people of South Sudan that any soldier found committing crime against civilian should be deal with" said a local judge.[63][64]

On 27 July, the SPLM-IO captured the Ngo Baggari County in Wau State from the government after fierce clashes, with the rebels claiming that they had captured the local County Commissioner, Anthony Fada Taban. There were also speculations that Taban might have defected to the SPLM-IO.[65][32] Governor Mayan admitted that the SPLA had indeed abandoned Ngo Baggari County to the SPLM-IO, but said that the retreat was voluntary and that no clashes had taken place. Furthermore, he denied that the County Commissioner had been captured.[66] The SPLM-IO's success in Ngo Baggari was explained by the fact that many locals, who were former soldiers, had been mistreated by the government and subsequently joined the rebels.[65] SPLM-IO commander Ashab Khamis Fahal claimed that 1725 SPLA soldiers had defected to them.[32] Meanwhile, a representative of the UDSF-M party accused SPLA units in Wau State of ignoring the ceasefire and attacking the local opposition groups, thereby causing the insecurity and chaos in the state. He also said that, as the SPLA soldiers received their orders only from the government in Juba, the governor was sidelined and in consequence unable to control the military.[67]

 
Sudan People's Liberation Army soldiers in 2016.

On 3 August, commissioner Taban resurfaced, announcing that he had actually defected to the rebels, citing the abuse of civilians by the government as reason.[68] At the same time, the OCHA criticized the government's military for hindering humanitarian relief agencies that attempted to enter Wau town.[69] On 6 August, peace talks between the local opposition and the governor were held, though the situation in the state remained volatile, with civilians being displaced[70] or unlawfully arrested by SPLA soldiers. Governor Mayan attempted to ease tensions by negotiating the release of fifty prisoners in October, and including local religious authorities in the peace talks. On the other side, the SPLA prepared a new offensive against the Wau rebels.[71][72] As of 10 August, the continued fighting had resulted in the Juba-Yambio-Wau road becoming too insecure for the transport of goods, leading to food shortages in Wau town.[73]

On 21 August, President Kiir finally approved governor Mayan's peace talks with the rebels of Wau State,[74] while the governor also reached an agreement with the South Sudan Police Service to deploy policemen to Wau town in order to improve the local security.[75] Between 9 and 11 September, clashes once again broke out west of Wau town, as the SPLM-IO claimed that the peace talks had failed, and the government forces had launched a major attack on their positions. The rebels also said that the attack had been repulsed, though this could not be independently confirmed.[76][77] On 17 September, clashes took place at Bazia and Busseri.[78] Despite the renewed violence, Governor Mayan declared on 19 September that he had formed a committee to hold direct negotiations with the rebels.[79] Just three days later, the SPLA and allied militias launched another attack against SPLM-IO positions, which led to heavy fighting around Wau town, Baggari, Bringi, Busseri, and Bazia that lasted until 25 September.[78][80][81] At the same time, President Kiir finally approved the creation of cantonment sites for SPLM-IO forces in the Bahr el Ghazal region after rejecting this move for a long time. These cantonment sites, however, were meant only for SPLM-IO fighters loyal to Taban Deng Gai, the new Vice President of South Sudan. Riek Machar's followers, on the other side, were referred to as "warmongers" that would "be dealt with" by the government.[82] On 17 October, the SPLM-IO and local citizens accused the SPLA of robbing and killing nine civilians in Wau.[19] At this point, fighting had mostly abated, as the peace talks progressed.[83]

 
The UN protection of civilians (PoC) site in Wau town in December 2016.

By December 2016, however, fighting had restarted,[84] with the rebels having taken control of large areas in the western part of Wau State.[37] Heavy clashes once again broke out in the area around Busseri, forcing many civilians to flee their homes,[85] with the SPLM-IO claiming to have fully captured Busseri.[86] Even though the governor continued to urge the local rebels to join Taban Deng Gai's faction and end their insurgency, his pleas were rejected by the SPLM-IO spokesman for Wau, Nicola Gabriel Adam. Gabriel claimed that Taban Deng Gai had become part of the government they were fighting, while accusing the army of being the aggressor in this conflict, saying that the SPLA had just recently attacked SPLM-IO forces near Bringi.[87] The mayor of Wau, meanwhile, denied that clashes were still happening, saying the people still fled to Wau town due to food shortages in their home areas.[88]

 
Since February 2017, the conflict between the Luo in Wau State and government-allied Dinka pastoralists from Tonj State escalated, leading to clashes and many deaths over the following months.[7][8]

By mid-January 2017, about 28,850 IDPs were sheltered at Wau town, unable to return to their homes due to the ongoing fighting.[85] On 20 January, heavy fighting broke out at Khor Natabu along the Bringi-Wau road, as SPLA-allied Dinka pastoralists from Tonj State attacked local opposition-affiliated Luo farmers. The attack was repulsed, and on 25 January the cattle herders retreated to Tonj.[8][89] Nevertheless, violence between Luo farmers in Wau State and Dinkas from Tonj continued in the following months, leading to clashes that left dozens dead and displaced many others.[7]

Also in January 2017, Lt. Col. al-Fadil Meil Issa, a member of the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring Mechanism (CTSAMM) in Wau, was brutally murdered by unknown assailants. Serving as CTSAMM's liaison officer to contact the local rebel factions,[90][91] Issa had been loyal to Taban Deng Gai's SPLM-IO faction. When the government consequently arrested four suspects, they declared that Issa had been killed by Machar's followers.[92] Clashes took place directly west of Wau town during the night between 30 and 31 January, when a SPLA patrol encountered a group of rebels by chance. Three government soldiers were killed during the following firefight.[93]

On 9 March 2017, a leading SPLM-IO commander in Wau State, General Faiz Ismail Fatur, announced that he was defecting to the National Salvation Front (NAS), a newly formed rebel group. Ismail blamed his defection on Machar's neglect of the rebels in Western Bahr el Ghazal, and the problems within the SPLM-IO. According to him, the group lacked both a proper vision as well as capable leadership, and suffered from organizational chaos, saying that "the [rebel] army is curtailed by officers without assignments, shamefully, at places, you find a brigadier leading a squad".[6] On 12 March, rebel forces reportedly launched an attack in Kwarjina County in eastern Wau State, causing the army to deploy more forces to area in order to restore security.[94] Meanwhile, Taban Deng Gai's SPLM-IO faction was granted a minister position in the Wau State government as part of a power-sharing deal.[95] Opposition militants launched a major attack on a government base at Natabu west of Wau town on 24 March 2017. In course of the fighting 12 government soldiers were killed and seven wounded,[96] while the rebels suffered two dead and three wounded.[97]

Government recapture of Baggari and massacre in Wau town edit

 
Refugees in Wau town.

The government began to intensify its counter-insurgency operations in Wau State in early April, moving more troops, tanks and equipment into the region.[98] On 4 April, the strengthened SPLA forces initiated a large-scale offensive against SPLM-IO positions in the areas around Bisellia, Baggari, Bazia, and Kuajiena, resulting in fierce fighting.[99] The SPLM-IO later accused the South Sudanese Air Force of having used chemical weapons to bombard them during these clashes.[18] On 5 April, the rebels launched a counter-attack against Mapel, which resulted in a battle during which either government or opposition fighters gunned down dozens of civilians.[100] Three days later, the government forces retook Baggari, which had been in the hands of the SPLM-IO for nine months, after heavy fighting with rebel defenders.[101][102] On the following day, however, the rebels ambushed a government convoy as it returned to Wau town, and killed Brig. Gen. Peter Par Jiek, Col. Abraham Bol Chut Dhuol (brother of Matur Chut Dhuol) as well as twelve of their bodyguards.[26][24] In revenge for the ambush,[98] SPLA soldiers and pro-government Dinka militiamen belonging to Mathiang Anyoor began a rampage in Wau town and surrounding villages, murdering and robbing non-Dinkas. UNMISS stated that at least 16 civilians were killed and 10 wounded,[98][103][104] while local sources reported 31 killed and 9 wounded.[105] The SPLM-IO and pro-opposition media claimed that about 50 civilians had been murdered.[27][98] Locals said that those targeted by the pro-government fighters mostly belonged to the Fertit, Luo, Jur Modo/Jur Beli, Balanda Boor/Balanda Bviri ethnic groups, which were believed by the assailants to support the rebels.[98][103] Due to the renewed violence, 8,000 more locals were displaced, as 4,000 civilians fled to the UN PoC site at Wau town and 3,800 sought refuge at the Catholic Cathedral.[106] The SPLM government,[107] the SPLM-IO,[98] and the National Democratic Movement (another rebel faction)[108] all condemned the massacre in Wau town, with the government ordering the perpetrators' arrest.[107]

It is not a war against rebels, it is a war of looking who is from that tribe and they kill you.

A refugee at Wau town[12]

On 12 April, the SPLM-IO claimed to have recaptured Baggari and repelled the SPLA attacks against their other strongholds, though this was strongly disputed by the government.[99][109][110] As the situation in Wau State and other areas of Western Bahr el Ghazal escalated, SPLA chief of staff Paul Malong Awan was ordered to take command of the operations in the region around 15 April,[20] though Kiir dismissed him in early May.[111] Meanwhile, the number of civilians who had sought refuge at the Catholic Cathedral of Wau town increased to 18.000.[112] In June 2017, Wau State's government organized peace talks between representatives of the Luo tribes of Wau and the Dinka tribes of Tonj with the aim of ending the violence between the two groups.[7][113] Meanwhile, the citizens of Wau town complained that insecurity still prevailed in the state, with government soldiers regularly stealing from civilians.[114]

New tribal conflicts, and famine edit

 
The 2017 South Sudan famine also affected Wau State; the UN rated western Wau per the IPC scale as suffering from an "Acute Food and Livelihood Crisis", while the state's east and north were considered "Borderline Food Insecure".

In July and August 2017, Taban Deng Gai's SPLM-IO faction announced that 7,000 rebel fighters in Wau State had defected from Machar's faction to the pro-government forces; this claim could not be independently verified and was denied by the opposition.[33][35] Only about 150 rebels, led by lieutenant colonels Santino Akot Majok and Salva Ujok Achor, were confirmed to have surrendered.[115] Fighting in the countryside continued, while ethnic conflicts spread to northern Wau State, where tribal fighters from Gogrial State destroyed a village.[116] On 3 August, the newly appointed operations commander of the government forces in Wau, Mathok Akec, died of food poisoning,[25] though this was disputed by a local doctor, according to whom sigmoid colon volvulus was the actual cause of death. Due to differing from the military's official account, the doctor in question was subsequently arrested, although the civilian authorities attempted to get him set free.[117]

Meanwhile, famine spread in Wau State's countryside, leading to starvation[118][119][120] and more refugees fleeing to Wau town,[121] whose IDP population had increased to about 52,000 by July.[12] The reasons for the worsening famine in the countryside, especially in Bisselia County, are disputed: Whereas the government maintained that the security situation in Wau State had improved and blamed the lack of humanitarian support,[118] the opposition argued that the famine was part of a deliberate government strategy to starve dissidents in the Baggari, Bisselia, Kpaile, Kawajina, and Udici Counties into submission by disturbing farmers and hindering the work of NGOs.[122] According to the pro-government commissioner of Bisselia County, Francis Ibrahim, President Kiir had donated 3,400 sacks of sorghum to the refugees in Wau town, whereas Bisselia's population still had not received any aid by the central authorities by 22 August.[123] The food situation in Bisselia improved in September, as farmers were able to harvest their crops;[124] in other parts of the countryside, however, the famine continued unabated. Around 150 people fled from Bazia to Agok near Wau town due to lack of food in their home areas.[125] Nevertheless, United Nations authorities said that the security had markedly improved in Wau State, citing that around 6,000 IDPs had returned from Wau town to their home areas. Around 32,500 refugees still resided in the PoC camps.[126]

Meanwhile, the conflict between tribal fighters from northern Wau, southern Gogrial, and western Tonj continued, as several villages were raided and tribal forces clashed with government soldiers.[9][127][128] Wau's governor accused "former state officials" of inciting the tribal militias.[129] On 15 September, President Kiir fired Andrea Mayan Achor and some other officials in Wau State without providing a reason,[130] and subsequently appointed Angelo Taban Biajo as new governor of Wau.[22] Achor said that his removal was a "normal government procedure", and asked the citizens of Wau State to support his successor.[131] In response to the tribal violence in the northern parts of Wau State, the government started an initiative to collect firearms from the civilian population in August, reportedly collecting over 500 weapons by early December.[132][133] Despite this, armed cattle raids and tribal clashes continued along the border in 2018, with at least 25 people being killed in February and March of that year in the area of Kwarjiena.[134][135]

In a continued attempt to end the insurgency, SPLA Chief of General Staff James Ajonga Mawut ordered the release of nine POWs who had served as officers for Machar's rebel forces in November 2017, with governor Angelo Taban urging the released officers to encourage active rebel fighters in Wau State to surrender.[21][136] In December, an important road between Wau and Tumbura could be reopened due to the improving security situation,[137] while the military reportedly prepared a new offensive against rebel forces in Wau State.[138]

Paul Malong Awan's rebellion, renewed clashes, and ceasefire deal edit

 
Paul Malong Awan, former SPLA army chief, reportedly planned an attack on Wau in early 2018

In January 2018, it was discovered that former SPLA Chief of General Staff Paul Malong Awan planned his own rebellion against the government, and had begun to organize an attack of associates on Wau airport.[23] The plot failed, and members of the 5th Division who were suspected of being allied with Malong were arrested, while the rest of the division remained alert in case of further possible incidents.[139] Governor Angelo Taban Biajo subsequently declared that there was no further security risks in Wau.[23] Despite initially denying his involvement in any plan to attack Wau,[139] Malong later openly rebelled and started a new insurgent group, the "South Sudan United Front" (SS-UF).[140] In the following months, several officers of the 5th Division joined the insurgency against the government. One of them, Captain Baak Bol Baak, was an alleged Malong follower and escaped with his troops from Wau to join the South Sudan Patriotic Army rebels in Northern Bahr el Ghazal in February 2018.[141] Another, Stephen Buay Rolnyang, was the former chief commander of the 5th Division and rebelled in Mayom in May 2018.[142][143] Major General Keer Kiir Keer was appointed new head of the SPLA's 5th Division.[144]

Meanwhile, the security situation in Wau State had improved, so that about 14,000 displaced people returned to their homes between January and June 2018; nevertheless, about 30,000 remained at the refugee camps.[145] Much of western Wau State remained in rebel hands, and the political situation there remained tense; areas like the greater Baggari sub-area were mostly cut off from humanitarian aid and were thus threatened by famine.[146] The Juba-based CTSAMM monitoring group also accused one SPLM-IO group which operated northwest of Wau town of having recruited child soldiers; the SPLM-IO consequently stated that this faction had possibly "gone rogue".[147]

In June 2018, fighting reportedly resumed between government and rebel forces, as SPLM-IO rebels claimed that the SPLA had started to attack them at Ngo-Baggari.[148] According to Human Rights Watch, the SPLA's 5th Division under Maj. Gen. Keer Kiir Keer began an assault on rebel-held areas south and southwest of Wau as well as the town of Wad Alel from 12 June, probably to regaining territory before a planned ceasefire agreement could come into effect. Wad Alel, a settlement dominated by Luo, was captured and mostly destroyed by the SPLA, although the rebel continued to maintain an underground presence in the town.[144] The military reportedly overran rebel positions at Baggari, Bisellia, and Engo halima on 23 June, though the rebels managed to regain these areas in course of a counter-attack on the following day. On 25 June, the SPLM-IO insurgents claimed that the SPLA and allied JEM militiamen had attempted to capture Omboro from them, though the attack was allegedly repulsed. The government denied these accusations, and an army spokesman stated that "there is no fighting because peace talks are ongoing".[10][149] Although a countrywide ceasefire was supposed to take effect on 30 June, the SPLA reportedly attacked the rebels' base of Mboro in Wau State on that day. The government rejected these accusations, stating that Mboro had been under its control since 2016. A rebel spokesman said about the purported clashes in Wau State that "There is the possibility Salva Kiir is not in control of his forces or he doesn't want peace to come".[150][151][152]

The SPLA offensive continued unabated in the next months, resulting in clashes at Baggari, Bringi, Basselia, Mboro, Farajalla, Ngisa, Ngo Dakalla, Wad Alel, and along the Jur River. Tens of thousands of civilians were once again displaced, and there were reports widespread abuses at the hands of both sides.[144][153][154][155][156] Mboro was captured by the SPLA after a battle lasting from 24 to 30 June, whereupon much of the community was destroyed. SPLM-IO rebels retook Wad Alel in July, forcibly recruiting locals and looting the settlement before retreating.[144] According to witnesses, security forces arrested local men belonging to ethnic minorities suspected insurgents, during the offensive. The detainees were transported to facilities at Grinti and Jebel Akhdar, and tortured before being released. Both sides hindered the delivery of humanitarian aid by NGOs. The SPLA offensive ended in late August 2018.[144] In September 2018, the South Sudanese government and Riek Machar's SPLM-IO faction signed a peace deal, resulting in the gradual cessation of hostilities between the two sides. Fighting in Wau State initially continued despite the agreement.[144]

Wau State's SPLM-IO rebels agreed to a ceasefire on 31 January 2019, formally ending their insurgency. Both Brigadier General Peter Ngoli, head of SPLA-IO operations in Besselia region, and SPLA commander Joshua Konyi signalled the readiness of their forces to adhere to the peace deal.[157]

Aftermath edit

Following the end of the clashes, the security situation in Wau State improved, and the relations between soldiers and civilians became better as well. Confidence-building efforts by the NGOs Saferworld and the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) helped to generate new trust, child soldiers were demobilized, and the military encouraged troops to behave properly. At the same time, locals urged to government to pay its soldiers so that they were not forced to steal to feed their families.[158] President Kiir held a speech in Wau on 5 March, asking the people for forgiveness for the mistakes of his government. He urged the locals to refrain from further violence and revenge attacks. He also stated that the government would try to improve the local roads, and ease tensions between farmers and nomads in Wau State. By this point, most refugees in Wau town had returned to their homes.[159]

Per the peace deal the Machar-loyal forces began to relocate to agreed assembly points in Wau State from 22 May 2019, when the first rebel battalion arrived at Busseri.[160]

By late 2019, a substantial number of SPLA soldiers stationed around Wau belonged to Mathiang Anyoor units. As non-native Dinka, they had few options to defect or desert, and were thus regarded as loyal to the government.[161]

Notes edit

  1. ^ The SPLM government initially maintained that the insurgents were members of the so-called "Islamic Movement for Liberation of Raja", supported by the Lord's Resistance Army and Sudan,[2] and reportedly led by Ali Tamim Fartak.[3] These claims, however, have been contradicted by several news outlets.
  2. ^ The Luo tribal forces are not in open rebellion against the government, but fight against government-allied Dinka pastoralists.[7][8]
  3. ^ The Aguok and Apuk tribes fight against each other over "border disputes, grazing land and water points" in Gogrial State.[9] Their conflict has spread to northern Wau, however, and both groups have raided villages and attacked government soldiers, ignoring state authorities.[9]
  4. ^ a b "Mathiang Anyoor" is an umbrella term for SPLA troops who mostly belonged to the Dinka people, have been recruited from Northern Bahr el Ghazal's Aweil region, and were traditionally patronized by Paul Malong Awan. Both irregular militias, army units formed from these militias, and new, regular SPLA formations haven been described as "Mathiang Anyoor".[42]

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Works cited edit

  • Blocq, Daniel S. (2017). "The grassroots nature of counterinsurgent tribal militia formation: the case of the Fertit in Southern Sudan, 1985–1989". In David M. Anderson; Øystein H. Rolandsen (eds.). Politics and Violence in eastern Africa. The Struggles of Emerging States. Abingdon-on-Thames, New York City: Routledge. pp. 172–186. ISBN 978-1-138-05961-0.
  • Boswell, Alan (October 2019). Rebecca Bradshaw (ed.). "Insecure Power and Violence: The Rise and Fall of Paul Malong and the Mathiang Anyoor" (PDF). HSBA Briefing Paper. Geneva: Small Arms Survey.
  • Vuylsteke, Sarah (December 2018). "Identity and Self-determination: The Fertit Opposition in South Sudan" (PDF). HSBA Briefing Paper. Geneva: Small Arms Survey.

January 01, 1970
2016, 2019, clashes, part, south, sudanese, civil, ethnic, violence, south, sudanun, protection, civilians, site, town, refugees, were, displaced, during, fighting, december, 2016, around, civilians, found, shelter, there, july, 2017, this, number, swelled, da. 2016 2019 Wau clashesPart of the South Sudanese Civil War and the ethnic violence in South SudanUN protection of civilians PoC site in the town of Wau for refugees who were displaced during the fighting By December 2016 around 29 000 civilians had found shelter there 11 by July 2017 this number had swelled to 39 000 12 Date23 June 2016 13 31 January 2019 2 years 7 months 1 week and 1 day LocationWau State South SudanResultStalemate peace agreement Government secures the town of Wau and most of Wau State Rebel forces maintain control of several areasBelligerentsLocal opposition 1 a Fertit tribal militias 4 SPLM IO rebels 5 NAS 6 since March 2017 Luo tribal militias since Feb 2017 b Aguok and Apuk tribal militias since Aug 2017 c SPLM government SPLM IO Taban Deng Gai splinter faction JEM opposition claim 10 Commanders and leadersBrig Gen Augustine Charles 14 SPLM IO commander of Western Bahr el Ghazal Maj Gen Ashhab Khamis Fahal Ukanda 5 15 SPLM IO commander Gissmalla Arnu 16 SPLM IO commander Peter Tingo 17 SPLM IO shadow governor of Wau by June 2016 Dominic Ukello 18 SPLM IO shadow governor of Wau by early 2017 Col Nicola Gabriel Adam 19 SPLM IO spokesman in Wau Gen Faiz Ismail Fatur 6 NAS commander of Western Bahr el Ghazal Lt Gen Paul Malong Awan 20 SPLA Chief of General Staff 2016 17 Lt Gen James Ajonga Mawut 21 SPLA Chief of General Staff from 2017 Elias Waya Nyipuoc POW 13 Wau governor until 2016 Andrea Mayan Achor 13 Wau governor 2016 17 Angelo Taban Biajo 22 Wau governor from 2017 Lt Gen Gabriel Jok Riak 4 5th Division 2016 Maj Gen Michael Majur Alier 21 23 5th Division c 2017 18 Gen Stephen Buay Rolnyang 5th Division c 2017 18 Maj Gen Keer Kiir Keer 5th Division 2018 19 Brig Gen Peter Par Jiek 24 Mathok Akec 25 Col Abraham Bol Chut Dhuol 24 Gen Magok Magok 26 Gen Thayip Gatluak 27 Units involvedSPLA IO Western Bahar Ghazal Lion Forces WBGLF 18 28 SPLA 5th Division 13 Mathiang Anyoor 27 d South Sudan Air Force 29 South Sudan Police Service 30 Dinka tribal militias 2 StrengthSeveral thousand fighters 31 32 33 Several thousand fighters 1 200 34 in Momoi and Abushaka Several Mil Mi 17s and Mil Mi 24s 29 Casualties and losses7 000 defected gov claim 33 35 Unknown500 killed 31 1 as of late June 2016 70 000 4 150 000 36 15 displaced Armed clashes took in Wau State from late June 2016 to January 2019 between the Dinka dominated Sudan People s Liberation Army SPLA and local opposition forces consisting of tribal Fertit militias as well as fighters claiming allegiance to Riek Machar It is unclear to what extent these rebels were actually part of the SPLM IO or acting independently while using the SPLM IO s name 37 The clashes resulted in the arrest of the state s governor Elias Waya Nyipuoc widespread death and destruction in the state capital Wau town 13 1 4 and the displacement of up to 150 000 people 36 Contents 1 Background 1 1 Increasing violence in Wau State 2 Clashes 2 1 Battle in Wau town 2 2 Fighting in the countryside 2 3 Government recapture of Baggari and massacre in Wau town 2 4 New tribal conflicts and famine 2 5 Paul Malong Awan s rebellion renewed clashes and ceasefire deal 3 Aftermath 4 Notes 5 References 5 1 Works citedBackground editRivalries and violence between various ethnic groups have a long history in South Sudan Many minorities in the country believe that their communities are threatened and marginalized by the Dinka people who have traditionally dominated the administration of southern Sudan 28 The Fertit are one such minority and mostly concentrated in areas of former Western Bahr el Ghazal including Wau State 38 The animosity between Dinka and Fertit became deeply entrenched during the Second Sudanese Civil War 28 when the Dinka dominated Sudan People s Liberation Army SPLA waged a rebellion against the Sudanese government Many Fertit opted to stay loyal to Sudan or remain neutral as they feared suppression at the hands of the Dinka in an independent South Sudan The SPLA responded by attacking Fertit as perceived enemies of the rebellion 39 causing militant Fertit to organize the so called Army of Peace in self defense This militia then became involved in widespread massacres of Dinka from 1986 worsening ethnic relations even further 40 Increasing violence in Wau State edit nbsp Location of Wau State in South Sudan In 2015 the South Sudanese government and the SPLM IO signed the ARCSS peace deal in an attempt to end the civil war Both sides used concessions in the agreement to their advantage however and the agreement gradually fell apart 41 Wau State was an area which was affected by the ARCSS The SPLM IO mobilized forces in Wau and then demanded that these rebels were granted cantonment zones and be included in the ARCSS security provisions This was unacceptable to Gen Paul Malong Awan the SPLA s chief of staff who responded by mobilizing loyal army elements such as Mathiang Anyoor units d He then circumvented the formal chain of command and ordered these SPLA troops to crush the opposition by force even though the peace agreement was still in force 43 This resulted in growing ethnic tensions in Wau State from early December 2015 The SPLA soldiers deployed to the region for counter insurgency operations mostly belonged to tribes from Northern Bahr el Ghazal and Warrap 34 while the local SPLM IO fighters intensified their operations 44 On 2 December the SPLM IO reportedly attacked government units at Busseri and Firka causing the SPLA to send reinforcements to these area which were in turn ambushed and defeated by the rebels 44 Three days later clashes between rebel and government fighters broke out around Bisellia Bazia Faraj Allah Bringi 44 Mapel and the Bo River Post 45 Amid the fighting there were reports that the Ugandan People s Defence Air Force 44 and or the South Sudan Air Force conducted aerial attacks against both rebel as well as civilian targets using attack helicopters 45 The UNO consequently criticised the SPLA for breaching the national ceasefire by conducting offensive operations 46 At the same time Human Rights Watch reported that the newly deployed government soldiers mostly Dinka began to abuse the local Fertit population forcing tens of thousands to flee Wau Many civilians were arrested and then murdered as purported SPLM IO supporters Governor Elias Waya Nyipuoc admitted that by 30 May 2016 he had confirmed that at least 100 civilians had been murdered by SPLA soldiers and had reported the cases to the government Unable to stop them he said that the soldiers probably abused the local population because the government had failed to pay or feed them This caused them to rob what they needed Waya argued that this behavior was to be expected when the government neglected their military forces The SPLA leadership meanwhile denied that any abuses at the hands of SPLA soldiers had taken place in Wau 34 In addition to the violence of the SPLA against civilians no progress was made in the attempts to enforce the ceasefire between the SPLA and local SPLM IO groups as the government denied that the SPLM IO had any presence in the whole Bahr el Ghazal region to which Wau State belongs As result no agreement for SPLM IO cantonment areas in Wau State was reached 47 On 9 April the SPLA command even announced that they would launch an offensive in Bahr el Ghazal and Equatoria to destroy all SPLM IO units in these regions 29 At the same time the SPLA soldiers were accused by the opposition of intensifying their abuses of Fertit civilians while reportedly working together with local Dinka militants and armed cattle herders in their attacks The violence in Wau further increased in June as individual Fertit began to fight back by murdering soldiers policemen and Dinkas This in turn caused revenge killings by Dinkas and SPLA against Fertit 31 In addition insecurity in the state increased dramatically as local SPLM IO and SPLA units ignored the ceasefire and clashed on several occasions at Bagari and Angu Angu 16 48 At least 8 SPLA soldiers were killed 1 while Raga town in the neighbouring Lol State was overrun by rebels for a short time resulting in the death of several bodyguards of the local governor 13 Clashes editBattle in Wau town edit nbsp Wau town in 2009 By 23 June a larger battle south of the state capital Wau town broke out between SPLA and SPLM IO the latter claiming to fight in order to protect the local Fertit people from attacks by the Dinka dominated SPLA 4 5 As result of the increasing violence a state of emergency was declared in Wau town and the SPLA s 5th Division moved in officially to prevent further escalation of violence 13 These forces were under the command of Lt Gen Gabriel Jok Riak who had been accused of human rights abuses by the United Nations during the South Sudanese Civil War 4 Governor Waya initially claimed to support the emergency declaration stating All who are here are rebels so the Division 5 of the SPLA is ready and even those who are just walking around are ready 13 However opposition groups claimed that the army soon began to plunder the state capital and to assault the civilian population leading Governor Waya to criticise the soldiers 1 On 24 June 2016 President Kiir unexpectedly sacked Waya 13 and just a few hours later had him arrested A local SPLA commander declared that Waya had been arrested because he was responsible for the deteriorating situation in the state claiming that he had no respect for the military and talked nonsense 49 A few days later a document began to circulate on the internet that claimed that Lt Gen Mangar Buong Aluenge of the SPLA had plotted from the very beginning to remove and arrest Waya 50 while the Society for Threatened Peoples believed that Waya s criticism of the army had led to his arrest 1 As result of Waya s dismissal 51 the situation escalated completely as a heavy battle broke out in Wau town 52 on evening of 24 June 28 Dinka youth militants in civilian clothing and uniforms entered Wau s south western neighbourhoods where they murdered and raped Fertit civilians 28 According to independent and opposition sources as army soldiers and Dinka militias intensified their attacks on the town s Fertit population many locals picked up arms and began to fight the pro government forces 1 4 31 They were supported by armed Fertit youth from the countryside who also came into Wau town to take revenge against the Dinkas 53 The SPLM IO claimed that their forces had stayed out of Wau town but attacked SPLA soldiers to protect Fertit civilians in the settlement s southern outskirts 5 Massacres continued throughout the night 28 but by late 25 June the SPLA claimed to have secured the town and began to search for hiding insurgents 52 The army imposed a curfew in Wau town the next day 54 and according to local civilians together with Dinka tribal fighters once again began to kill rape and rob the local Fertit civilians These began to flee en masse to the nearby UNMISS base and local churches for protection 4 others escaped to areas held by SPLM IO aligned Fertit militias such as the Fertit Lions 28 The government forces however maintained that the whole battle was the result of tribal fighters invading the town whereupon some greedy civilians started immediately on a looting spree Accordingly the army had just defended itself and not preyed on civilians though army spokesman Lul Rurai Koang said that it was possible that individual soldiers might have participated in the looting 53 nbsp The refugee camp at Wau town s cathedral where around 8 500 IDPs had found shelter by December 2016 55 On 28 June Wau town was once again attacked by a major force of insurgents reportedly 350 700 fighters 3 17 Independent and opposition sources claim that the assailants belonged to a pro Fertit SPLM IO linked tribal militia 31 17 while the government said they were part of the Islamic Movement for Liberation of Raja 3 This group government spokesman Makuei Lueth further claimed wanted establish an Islamic state in the region but also included members of the Christian Lord s Resistance Army He accused Sudan of backing them 2 The assault was eventually repelled 3 and afterwards Dinka gunmen once again began to loot the town and executed anyone opposing them While the government claimed that the looters were unrelated criminals locals believed them to be SPLA soldiers as they wore uniforms 31 17 UNMISS also said that a total breakdown of law and order had taken place in Wau 56 A least 30 people were killed while attempting to protect the properties of civilians who fled their homes 57 After the attackers were driven off the pro government mayor of Wau town quickly declared that the town was safe again but most residents refused to return home One civilian stated that Up to now people are not really secure because some of the soldiers are still moving around 17 Meanwhile the official SPLM IO leadership attempted to distance itself from the local uprising 3 It was estimated that the fighting in the Wau State had resulted in over 400 civilians killed 1 and up to 120 000 displaced 36 Of these 12 000 had sought refuge in the local UNMISS base 2 On 2 July the new Governor of Wau Andrea Mayan declared that the situation in the state capital had been stabilized with people being able to return home A high level committee had been formed to investigate the clashes and the curfew was lifted 57 The Guardian however reported that by 5 July only the Dinka dominated parts of Wau town were lively Pick up trucks mounted with machine guns and full of soldiers toting AK 47s mostly Dinka patrolled the area In contrast the southern and western parts of town home to the Fartit were deserted after people flocked to churches and the UN base for protection 4 On 7 July another battle broke out in Wau town resulting once again in a civilian mass exodus By then it was estimated that 150 000 people had fled Wau town leaving it mostly deserted Malaria had broken out among the refugees most of which were forced to live in the bush Government and rebel forces blamed each other for the renewed fighting SPLM IO Maj Gen Ashhab Khamis Fahal Ukanda stated that They the government don t think other people have rights in this country We all worked together to bring independence of the country But they have turned against the rest of the people They think they are born to rule We will not accept that 15 58 Three day later sporadic small scale clashes broke out among SPLA units in Wau town 59 Fighting in the countryside edit nbsp Locations in Wau State where major clashes took place red between July 2016 and March 2017 On 12 July government forces reportedly launched an offensive against SPLM IO positions in the whole Wau state most importantly at Angu Angu Brenji Faraj Allah Bazia and Taban Heavy fighting also took place in the state capital s direct southern vicinity While both locals as well as local SPLA commanders confirmed the clashes army spokesman Lul Ruai denied that any military action took place 14 60 Whereas the SPLM IO claimed that they had attempted to evacuate civilians as they had been attacked 14 the SPLA s 5th Division accused the rebels of attacking Wau town Moreover the SPLA stated that they had relocated most of their forces from the state capital to defensive positions at Lokoloko and Jebel Rabi 60 After heavy fighting throughout 12 July the SPLM IO was forced to withdraw from Angu Angu Brenji and Taban accusing the SPLA to have arrested 25 civilians from these sites and to have taken them to Wau town 61 Governor Mayan announced on 20 July that he planned to initiate a dialogue with the armed opposition groups that still fought against the SPLA in Wau State Such peace talks however would depend on President Kiir s approval 62 On 23 July two SPLA soldiers were executed by a firing squad for the murder of a couple in Wau town The execution was supposed to serve as warning for SPLA soldiers who used to violet the military regulation it is also what tell the people of South Sudan that any soldier found committing crime against civilian should be deal with said a local judge 63 64 On 27 July the SPLM IO captured the Ngo Baggari County in Wau State from the government after fierce clashes with the rebels claiming that they had captured the local County Commissioner Anthony Fada Taban There were also speculations that Taban might have defected to the SPLM IO 65 32 Governor Mayan admitted that the SPLA had indeed abandoned Ngo Baggari County to the SPLM IO but said that the retreat was voluntary and that no clashes had taken place Furthermore he denied that the County Commissioner had been captured 66 The SPLM IO s success in Ngo Baggari was explained by the fact that many locals who were former soldiers had been mistreated by the government and subsequently joined the rebels 65 SPLM IO commander Ashab Khamis Fahal claimed that 1725 SPLA soldiers had defected to them 32 Meanwhile a representative of the UDSF M party accused SPLA units in Wau State of ignoring the ceasefire and attacking the local opposition groups thereby causing the insecurity and chaos in the state He also said that as the SPLA soldiers received their orders only from the government in Juba the governor was sidelined and in consequence unable to control the military 67 nbsp Sudan People s Liberation Army soldiers in 2016 On 3 August commissioner Taban resurfaced announcing that he had actually defected to the rebels citing the abuse of civilians by the government as reason 68 At the same time the OCHA criticized the government s military for hindering humanitarian relief agencies that attempted to enter Wau town 69 On 6 August peace talks between the local opposition and the governor were held though the situation in the state remained volatile with civilians being displaced 70 or unlawfully arrested by SPLA soldiers Governor Mayan attempted to ease tensions by negotiating the release of fifty prisoners in October and including local religious authorities in the peace talks On the other side the SPLA prepared a new offensive against the Wau rebels 71 72 As of 10 August the continued fighting had resulted in the Juba Yambio Wau road becoming too insecure for the transport of goods leading to food shortages in Wau town 73 On 21 August President Kiir finally approved governor Mayan s peace talks with the rebels of Wau State 74 while the governor also reached an agreement with the South Sudan Police Service to deploy policemen to Wau town in order to improve the local security 75 Between 9 and 11 September clashes once again broke out west of Wau town as the SPLM IO claimed that the peace talks had failed and the government forces had launched a major attack on their positions The rebels also said that the attack had been repulsed though this could not be independently confirmed 76 77 On 17 September clashes took place at Bazia and Busseri 78 Despite the renewed violence Governor Mayan declared on 19 September that he had formed a committee to hold direct negotiations with the rebels 79 Just three days later the SPLA and allied militias launched another attack against SPLM IO positions which led to heavy fighting around Wau town Baggari Bringi Busseri and Bazia that lasted until 25 September 78 80 81 At the same time President Kiir finally approved the creation of cantonment sites for SPLM IO forces in the Bahr el Ghazal region after rejecting this move for a long time These cantonment sites however were meant only for SPLM IO fighters loyal to Taban Deng Gai the new Vice President of South Sudan Riek Machar s followers on the other side were referred to as warmongers that would be dealt with by the government 82 On 17 October the SPLM IO and local citizens accused the SPLA of robbing and killing nine civilians in Wau 19 At this point fighting had mostly abated as the peace talks progressed 83 nbsp The UN protection of civilians PoC site in Wau town in December 2016 By December 2016 however fighting had restarted 84 with the rebels having taken control of large areas in the western part of Wau State 37 Heavy clashes once again broke out in the area around Busseri forcing many civilians to flee their homes 85 with the SPLM IO claiming to have fully captured Busseri 86 Even though the governor continued to urge the local rebels to join Taban Deng Gai s faction and end their insurgency his pleas were rejected by the SPLM IO spokesman for Wau Nicola Gabriel Adam Gabriel claimed that Taban Deng Gai had become part of the government they were fighting while accusing the army of being the aggressor in this conflict saying that the SPLA had just recently attacked SPLM IO forces near Bringi 87 The mayor of Wau meanwhile denied that clashes were still happening saying the people still fled to Wau town due to food shortages in their home areas 88 nbsp Since February 2017 the conflict between the Luo in Wau State and government allied Dinka pastoralists from Tonj State escalated leading to clashes and many deaths over the following months 7 8 By mid January 2017 about 28 850 IDPs were sheltered at Wau town unable to return to their homes due to the ongoing fighting 85 On 20 January heavy fighting broke out at Khor Natabu along the Bringi Wau road as SPLA allied Dinka pastoralists from Tonj State attacked local opposition affiliated Luo farmers The attack was repulsed and on 25 January the cattle herders retreated to Tonj 8 89 Nevertheless violence between Luo farmers in Wau State and Dinkas from Tonj continued in the following months leading to clashes that left dozens dead and displaced many others 7 Also in January 2017 Lt Col al Fadil Meil Issa a member of the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring Mechanism CTSAMM in Wau was brutally murdered by unknown assailants Serving as CTSAMM s liaison officer to contact the local rebel factions 90 91 Issa had been loyal to Taban Deng Gai s SPLM IO faction When the government consequently arrested four suspects they declared that Issa had been killed by Machar s followers 92 Clashes took place directly west of Wau town during the night between 30 and 31 January when a SPLA patrol encountered a group of rebels by chance Three government soldiers were killed during the following firefight 93 On 9 March 2017 a leading SPLM IO commander in Wau State General Faiz Ismail Fatur announced that he was defecting to the National Salvation Front NAS a newly formed rebel group Ismail blamed his defection on Machar s neglect of the rebels in Western Bahr el Ghazal and the problems within the SPLM IO According to him the group lacked both a proper vision as well as capable leadership and suffered from organizational chaos saying that the rebel army is curtailed by officers without assignments shamefully at places you find a brigadier leading a squad 6 On 12 March rebel forces reportedly launched an attack in Kwarjina County in eastern Wau State causing the army to deploy more forces to area in order to restore security 94 Meanwhile Taban Deng Gai s SPLM IO faction was granted a minister position in the Wau State government as part of a power sharing deal 95 Opposition militants launched a major attack on a government base at Natabu west of Wau town on 24 March 2017 In course of the fighting 12 government soldiers were killed and seven wounded 96 while the rebels suffered two dead and three wounded 97 Government recapture of Baggari and massacre in Wau town edit nbsp Refugees in Wau town The government began to intensify its counter insurgency operations in Wau State in early April moving more troops tanks and equipment into the region 98 On 4 April the strengthened SPLA forces initiated a large scale offensive against SPLM IO positions in the areas around Bisellia Baggari Bazia and Kuajiena resulting in fierce fighting 99 The SPLM IO later accused the South Sudanese Air Force of having used chemical weapons to bombard them during these clashes 18 On 5 April the rebels launched a counter attack against Mapel which resulted in a battle during which either government or opposition fighters gunned down dozens of civilians 100 Three days later the government forces retook Baggari which had been in the hands of the SPLM IO for nine months after heavy fighting with rebel defenders 101 102 On the following day however the rebels ambushed a government convoy as it returned to Wau town and killed Brig Gen Peter Par Jiek Col Abraham Bol Chut Dhuol brother of Matur Chut Dhuol as well as twelve of their bodyguards 26 24 In revenge for the ambush 98 SPLA soldiers and pro government Dinka militiamen belonging to Mathiang Anyoor began a rampage in Wau town and surrounding villages murdering and robbing non Dinkas UNMISS stated that at least 16 civilians were killed and 10 wounded 98 103 104 while local sources reported 31 killed and 9 wounded 105 The SPLM IO and pro opposition media claimed that about 50 civilians had been murdered 27 98 Locals said that those targeted by the pro government fighters mostly belonged to the Fertit Luo Jur Modo Jur Beli Balanda Boor Balanda Bviri ethnic groups which were believed by the assailants to support the rebels 98 103 Due to the renewed violence 8 000 more locals were displaced as 4 000 civilians fled to the UN PoC site at Wau town and 3 800 sought refuge at the Catholic Cathedral 106 The SPLM government 107 the SPLM IO 98 and the National Democratic Movement another rebel faction 108 all condemned the massacre in Wau town with the government ordering the perpetrators arrest 107 It is not a war against rebels it is a war of looking who is from that tribe and they kill you A refugee at Wau town 12 On 12 April the SPLM IO claimed to have recaptured Baggari and repelled the SPLA attacks against their other strongholds though this was strongly disputed by the government 99 109 110 As the situation in Wau State and other areas of Western Bahr el Ghazal escalated SPLA chief of staff Paul Malong Awan was ordered to take command of the operations in the region around 15 April 20 though Kiir dismissed him in early May 111 Meanwhile the number of civilians who had sought refuge at the Catholic Cathedral of Wau town increased to 18 000 112 In June 2017 Wau State s government organized peace talks between representatives of the Luo tribes of Wau and the Dinka tribes of Tonj with the aim of ending the violence between the two groups 7 113 Meanwhile the citizens of Wau town complained that insecurity still prevailed in the state with government soldiers regularly stealing from civilians 114 New tribal conflicts and famine edit nbsp The 2017 South Sudan famine also affected Wau State the UN rated western Wau per the IPC scale as suffering from an Acute Food and Livelihood Crisis while the state s east and north were considered Borderline Food Insecure In July and August 2017 Taban Deng Gai s SPLM IO faction announced that 7 000 rebel fighters in Wau State had defected from Machar s faction to the pro government forces this claim could not be independently verified and was denied by the opposition 33 35 Only about 150 rebels led by lieutenant colonels Santino Akot Majok and Salva Ujok Achor were confirmed to have surrendered 115 Fighting in the countryside continued while ethnic conflicts spread to northern Wau State where tribal fighters from Gogrial State destroyed a village 116 On 3 August the newly appointed operations commander of the government forces in Wau Mathok Akec died of food poisoning 25 though this was disputed by a local doctor according to whom sigmoid colon volvulus was the actual cause of death Due to differing from the military s official account the doctor in question was subsequently arrested although the civilian authorities attempted to get him set free 117 Meanwhile famine spread in Wau State s countryside leading to starvation 118 119 120 and more refugees fleeing to Wau town 121 whose IDP population had increased to about 52 000 by July 12 The reasons for the worsening famine in the countryside especially in Bisselia County are disputed Whereas the government maintained that the security situation in Wau State had improved and blamed the lack of humanitarian support 118 the opposition argued that the famine was part of a deliberate government strategy to starve dissidents in the Baggari Bisselia Kpaile Kawajina and Udici Counties into submission by disturbing farmers and hindering the work of NGOs 122 According to the pro government commissioner of Bisselia County Francis Ibrahim President Kiir had donated 3 400 sacks of sorghum to the refugees in Wau town whereas Bisselia s population still had not received any aid by the central authorities by 22 August 123 The food situation in Bisselia improved in September as farmers were able to harvest their crops 124 in other parts of the countryside however the famine continued unabated Around 150 people fled from Bazia to Agok near Wau town due to lack of food in their home areas 125 Nevertheless United Nations authorities said that the security had markedly improved in Wau State citing that around 6 000 IDPs had returned from Wau town to their home areas Around 32 500 refugees still resided in the PoC camps 126 Meanwhile the conflict between tribal fighters from northern Wau southern Gogrial and western Tonj continued as several villages were raided and tribal forces clashed with government soldiers 9 127 128 Wau s governor accused former state officials of inciting the tribal militias 129 On 15 September President Kiir fired Andrea Mayan Achor and some other officials in Wau State without providing a reason 130 and subsequently appointed Angelo Taban Biajo as new governor of Wau 22 Achor said that his removal was a normal government procedure and asked the citizens of Wau State to support his successor 131 In response to the tribal violence in the northern parts of Wau State the government started an initiative to collect firearms from the civilian population in August reportedly collecting over 500 weapons by early December 132 133 Despite this armed cattle raids and tribal clashes continued along the border in 2018 with at least 25 people being killed in February and March of that year in the area of Kwarjiena 134 135 In a continued attempt to end the insurgency SPLA Chief of General Staff James Ajonga Mawut ordered the release of nine POWs who had served as officers for Machar s rebel forces in November 2017 with governor Angelo Taban urging the released officers to encourage active rebel fighters in Wau State to surrender 21 136 In December an important road between Wau and Tumbura could be reopened due to the improving security situation 137 while the military reportedly prepared a new offensive against rebel forces in Wau State 138 Paul Malong Awan s rebellion renewed clashes and ceasefire deal edit nbsp Paul Malong Awan former SPLA army chief reportedly planned an attack on Wau in early 2018 In January 2018 it was discovered that former SPLA Chief of General Staff Paul Malong Awan planned his own rebellion against the government and had begun to organize an attack of associates on Wau airport 23 The plot failed and members of the 5th Division who were suspected of being allied with Malong were arrested while the rest of the division remained alert in case of further possible incidents 139 Governor Angelo Taban Biajo subsequently declared that there was no further security risks in Wau 23 Despite initially denying his involvement in any plan to attack Wau 139 Malong later openly rebelled and started a new insurgent group the South Sudan United Front SS UF 140 In the following months several officers of the 5th Division joined the insurgency against the government One of them Captain Baak Bol Baak was an alleged Malong follower and escaped with his troops from Wau to join the South Sudan Patriotic Army rebels in Northern Bahr el Ghazal in February 2018 141 Another Stephen Buay Rolnyang was the former chief commander of the 5th Division and rebelled in Mayom in May 2018 142 143 Major General Keer Kiir Keer was appointed new head of the SPLA s 5th Division 144 Meanwhile the security situation in Wau State had improved so that about 14 000 displaced people returned to their homes between January and June 2018 nevertheless about 30 000 remained at the refugee camps 145 Much of western Wau State remained in rebel hands and the political situation there remained tense areas like the greater Baggari sub area were mostly cut off from humanitarian aid and were thus threatened by famine 146 The Juba based CTSAMM monitoring group also accused one SPLM IO group which operated northwest of Wau town of having recruited child soldiers the SPLM IO consequently stated that this faction had possibly gone rogue 147 In June 2018 fighting reportedly resumed between government and rebel forces as SPLM IO rebels claimed that the SPLA had started to attack them at Ngo Baggari 148 According to Human Rights Watch the SPLA s 5th Division under Maj Gen Keer Kiir Keer began an assault on rebel held areas south and southwest of Wau as well as the town of Wad Alel from 12 June probably to regaining territory before a planned ceasefire agreement could come into effect Wad Alel a settlement dominated by Luo was captured and mostly destroyed by the SPLA although the rebel continued to maintain an underground presence in the town 144 The military reportedly overran rebel positions at Baggari Bisellia and Engo halima on 23 June though the rebels managed to regain these areas in course of a counter attack on the following day On 25 June the SPLM IO insurgents claimed that the SPLA and allied JEM militiamen had attempted to capture Omboro from them though the attack was allegedly repulsed The government denied these accusations and an army spokesman stated that there is no fighting because peace talks are ongoing 10 149 Although a countrywide ceasefire was supposed to take effect on 30 June the SPLA reportedly attacked the rebels base of Mboro in Wau State on that day The government rejected these accusations stating that Mboro had been under its control since 2016 A rebel spokesman said about the purported clashes in Wau State that There is the possibility Salva Kiir is not in control of his forces or he doesn t want peace to come 150 151 152 The SPLA offensive continued unabated in the next months resulting in clashes at Baggari Bringi Basselia Mboro Farajalla Ngisa Ngo Dakalla Wad Alel and along the Jur River Tens of thousands of civilians were once again displaced and there were reports widespread abuses at the hands of both sides 144 153 154 155 156 Mboro was captured by the SPLA after a battle lasting from 24 to 30 June whereupon much of the community was destroyed SPLM IO rebels retook Wad Alel in July forcibly recruiting locals and looting the settlement before retreating 144 According to witnesses security forces arrested local men belonging to ethnic minorities suspected insurgents during the offensive The detainees were transported to facilities at Grinti and Jebel Akhdar and tortured before being released Both sides hindered the delivery of humanitarian aid by NGOs The SPLA offensive ended in late August 2018 144 In September 2018 the South Sudanese government and Riek Machar s SPLM IO faction signed a peace deal resulting in the gradual cessation of hostilities between the two sides Fighting in Wau State initially continued despite the agreement 144 Wau State s SPLM IO rebels agreed to a ceasefire on 31 January 2019 formally ending their insurgency Both Brigadier General Peter Ngoli head of SPLA IO operations in Besselia region and SPLA commander Joshua Konyi signalled the readiness of their forces to adhere to the peace deal 157 Aftermath editFollowing the end of the clashes the security situation in Wau State improved and the relations between soldiers and civilians became better as well Confidence building efforts by the NGOs Saferworld and the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization CEPO helped to generate new trust child soldiers were demobilized and the military encouraged troops to behave properly At the same time locals urged to government to pay its soldiers so that they were not forced to steal to feed their families 158 President Kiir held a speech in Wau on 5 March asking the people for forgiveness for the mistakes of his government He urged the locals to refrain from further violence and revenge attacks He also stated that the government would try to improve the local roads and ease tensions between farmers and nomads in Wau State By this point most refugees in Wau town had returned to their homes 159 Per the peace deal the Machar loyal forces began to relocate to agreed assembly points in Wau State from 22 May 2019 when the first rebel battalion arrived at Busseri 160 By late 2019 a substantial number of SPLA soldiers stationed around Wau belonged to Mathiang Anyoor units As non native Dinka they had few options to defect or desert and were thus regarded as loyal to the government 161 Notes edit The SPLM government initially maintained that the insurgents were members of the so called Islamic Movement for Liberation of Raja supported by the Lord s Resistance Army and Sudan 2 and reportedly led by Ali Tamim Fartak 3 These claims however have been contradicted by several news outlets The Luo tribal forces are not in open rebellion against the government but fight against government allied Dinka pastoralists 7 8 The Aguok and Apuk tribes fight against each other over border disputes grazing land and water points in Gogrial State 9 Their conflict has spread to northern Wau however and both groups have raided villages and attacked government soldiers ignoring state authorities 9 a b Mathiang Anyoor is an umbrella term for SPLA troops who mostly belonged to the Dinka people have been recruited from Northern Bahr el Ghazal s Aweil region and were traditionally patronized by Paul Malong Awan Both irregular militias army units formed from these militias and new regular SPLA formations haven been described as Mathiang Anyoor 42 References edit a b c d e f g h Sudsudan Neue Massenflucht und unklare Menschenrechtslage Society for Threatened Peoples 27 June 2016 Retrieved 12 July 2016 a b c d Rebel army clashes kill 43 near South Sudan s Wau government Reuters 28 June 2016 Archived from the original on 28 June 2016 Retrieved 12 July 2016 a b c d e Over 40 people killed in South Sudan s town of Wau official Sudan Tribune 29 June 2016 Archived from the original on 12 October 2017 Retrieved 12 July 2016 a b c d e f g h i Violence erupts again in South Sudan as faith in peace deal flounders The Guardian 5 July 2016 Retrieved 12 July 2016 a b c d SPLA IO commander admits clashes with govt troops south of Wau Radio Tamazuj 29 June 2016 Archived from the original on 2016 06 30 Retrieved 12 July 2016 a b c Top SPLA IO commander resigns joins Cirillo s rebel group Radio Tamazuj 9 March 2017 Archived from the original on 2017 03 13 Retrieved 12 March 2017 a b c d Plans for peace conference between two tribes in Tonj and Wau states Radio Tamazuj 14 June 2017 Retrieved 19 June 2017 a b c Tonj state cattle herders withdraw over insecurity Sudan Tribune 25 January 2017 Retrieved 27 January 2017 a b c Apuk South commissioner says his area was attacked by gunmen Radio Tamazuj 14 September 2017 Retrieved 30 September 2017 a b South Sudan s rebels accuse govt of truce violation in Wau Radio Tamazuj 25 June 2018 Retrieved 26 June 2018 South Sudan IDPs Take Refuge in Church UN protected Sites Voice of America 13 December 2016 Retrieved 24 January 2017 a b c South Sudan s Wau Fear and displacement one year on Al Jazeera 3 July 2017 Retrieved 20 July 2017 a b c d e f g h i President Kiir fires Wau state governor Sudan Tribune 24 June 2016 Retrieved 12 July 2016 a b c Clashes between SPLA IO and SPLA on Tuesday in Wau Radio Tamazuj 14 June 2016 Archived from the original on 2016 07 15 Retrieved 14 July 2016 a b c Haru Mutasa 7 July 2016 South Sudan Renewed fighting in Wau forces exodus al Jazeera Retrieved 16 August 2016 a b SPLA soldier killed in Wau clashes Insider 26 June 2016 Archived from the original on 2016 08 15 Retrieved 12 July 2016 a b c d e Nabeel Biajo 28 June 2016 Residents Leery of Reported Calm in S Sudan Town Hit by Rampage Voice of America Retrieved 16 August 2016 a b c South Sudan Rebels Declare Victory In Wau Fighting Civilians Targeted Nyamilepedia 10 April 2017 Retrieved 20 April 2017 a b SPLA IO accuses govt troops of killing nine civilians in Wau Radio Tamazuj 17 October 2016 Archived from the original on 2016 10 18 Retrieved 17 October 2016 a b SPLA chief of staff in Bahr el Ghazal for military operations Sudan Tribune 16 April 2017 Retrieved 19 April 2017 a b c SPLA releases 9 war prisoners in Wau Radio Tamazuj 2 November 2017 Retrieved 1 January 2018 a b President Kiir swears in three new governors Radio Tamazuj 20 September 2017 Retrieved 30 September 2017 a b c No security threats in Wau governor Radio Tamazuj 11 January 2018 Retrieved 2 January 2018 a b c Western Lake Governor Matur Chut Collapses Surviving Death of his Brothers Nyamilepedia 12 April 2017 Retrieved 19 April 2017 a b SPLA operations commander dies of suspected food poisoning in Wau Radio Tamazuj 4 August 2017 Retrieved 17 August 2017 a b Two SPLA generals killed in ambush near Wau Radio Tamazuj 10 April 2017 Retrieved 19 April 2017 a b c South Sudan s silent slaughter Dinka massacre unchecked by regional international groups Fox News 13 April 2017 Retrieved 19 April 2017 a b c d e f g Vuylsteke 2018 p 3 a b c SPLA launches military operations against SPLA IO forces in Bahr el Ghazal region Sudan Tribune 10 April 2016 Archived from the original on 1 April 2018 Retrieved 6 August 2016 Over 200 police officers graduate in Wau state Sudan Tribune 7 September 2017 Retrieved 30 September 2017 a b c d e f Dozens killed during clashes in Wau The Niles 29 June 2016 Retrieved 12 July 2016 a b c SPLA IO rebels announce capture of Ngo Baggari County commissioner Radio Tamazuj 27 July 2016 Archived from the original on 2016 07 28 Retrieved 29 July 2016 a b c Opposition governor of Wau denies over 6 000 rebels joined national dialogue Radio Tamazuj 20 July 2017 Retrieved 20 July 2017 a b c Darius Wani 30 May 2016 Human remains discovered in Wau The Niles Retrieved 18 July 2016 a b Taban s faction claims over 1 000 rebels joined government in Wau Radio Tamazuj 10 August 2017 Retrieved 18 August 2017 a b c South Sudan explodes again Economist 12 July 2016 Retrieved 12 July 2016 a b FVP Gai to visits Wau over SPLM IO cantonment sites Sudan Tribune 30 December 2016 Retrieved 24 January 2017 Blocq 2017 pp 175 176 Blocq 2017 pp 176 177 Blocq 2017 pp 177 180 Boswell 2019 pp 10 11 Boswell 2019 pp 3 4 Boswell 2019 p 11 a b c d Matthew Lee 5 December 2016 In S Sudan UN Knows of Fighting in Bahr el Ghazal Internal Memos Here Inner City Press Retrieved 24 January 2017 a b SPLA spokesman denies aerial bombing in Wau County Radio Tamazuj 8 December 2015 Archived from the original on 2016 01 12 Retrieved 24 January 2017 UN says clashes in Wau County violate ceasefire Radio Tamazuj 8 December 2015 Archived from the original on 2017 02 02 Retrieved 24 January 2017 Waakhe Simon 30 May 2016 South Sudan s government broaches topic of cantonment areas The Niles Retrieved 18 July 2016 SPLA soldier killed in clashes between govt and opposition in Wau area Radio Tamazuj 25 June 2016 Archived from the original on 2016 08 16 Retrieved 12 July 2016 South Sudan security arrests ex Wau governor after dismissal Sudan Tribune 25 June 2016 Retrieved 12 July 2016 SPLA chief of staff not behind the arrest of former Wau governor officer Radio Tamazuj 4 July 2016 Archived from the original on 2016 07 05 Retrieved 12 July 2016 Report differences between ousted governor army commander caused Wau clashes Radio Tamazuj 12 August 2016 Archived from the original on 2016 08 13 Retrieved 16 August 2016 a b S Sudan army in control of Wau town after heavy gunfire sudantribune com 26 June 2016 Archived from the original on 12 October 2017 Retrieved 12 July 2016 a b Nabeel Biajo Tito Justin 27 June 2016 Hundreds Reportedly Killed or Injured in S Sudan Attacks Voice of America Retrieved 16 August 2016 South Sudanese authorities impose curfew in Wau town Sudan Tribune 27 June 2016 Retrieved 12 July 2016 Thousands of South Sudanese IDPs Take Shelter at Wau Church Voice of America 13 December 2016 Retrieved 24 January 2017 South Sudan former detainees condemn armed confrontation in Wau Sudan Tribune 27 June 2016 Retrieved 12 July 2016 a b Wau s new governor unveils plan to restore stability Sudan Tribune 2 July 2016 Retrieved 12 July 2016 Sporadic gunfire in South Sudan s Wau throughout Sunday Radio Tamazuj 10 July 2016 Archived from the original on 2016 07 08 Retrieved 13 July 2016 More shelling in Wau Thursday morning Radio Tamazuj 7 July 2016 Archived from the original on 2016 07 11 Retrieved 13 July 2016 a b SPLA says repulsed rebel attack in Wau state Sudan Tribune 12 July 2016 Retrieved 14 July 2016 SPLA IO commander accuses govt forces of arresting 25 civilians in Wau County Radio Tamazuj 7 July 2016 Archived from the original on 2016 07 15 Retrieved 13 July 2016 Wau governor plans to initiate dialogue with armed groups Radio Tamazuj 20 July 2016 Archived from the original on 2016 07 21 Retrieved 21 July 2016 Two SPLA soldiers executed by firing squad for killings in Wau Radio Tamazuj 25 July 2016 Archived from the original on 2016 07 26 Retrieved 29 July 2016 Two South Sudanese soldiers executed in Wau Sudan Tribune 23 July 2016 Archived from the original on 15 December 2018 Retrieved 29 July 2016 a b SPLA soldiers pullout from Ngo Bagari county Sudan Tribune 29 June 2016 Retrieved 30 July 2016 Wau governor says govt soldiers withdrew from Ngo Baggari County Radio Tamazuj 28 July 2016 Archived from the original on 2016 07 29 Retrieved 29 July 2016 Opposition party says Wau governor needs power to tackle insecurity Radio Tamazuj 2 August 2016 Archived from the original on 2016 08 04 Retrieved 6 August 2016 Ngo Baggari commissioner defects to opposition faction Radio Tamazuj 3 August 2016 Archived from the original on 2016 08 04 Retrieved 6 August 2016 Relief agencies call for unhindered humanitarian access in Wau Radio Tamazuj 3 August 2016 Archived from the original on 2016 08 05 Retrieved 6 August 2016 Wau Governor takes steps to stop fighting Radio Tamazuj 6 August 2016 Archived from the original on 2016 12 24 Retrieved 5 December 2016 Security agents release citizens detained in Wau state Sudan Tribune 24 October 2016 Retrieved 5 December 2016 Talks between Wau government and opposition ongoing Radio Tamazuj 19 October 2016 Archived from the original on 2016 12 20 Retrieved 5 December 2016 Road insecurity causing food shortage in Wau town Radio Tamazuj 10 August 2016 Archived from the original on 2016 08 11 Retrieved 13 August 2016 Kiir approves negotiation with armed opposition in Wau Sudan Tribune 22 August 2016 Retrieved 25 August 2016 Government to deploy police operations in Wau town Sudan Tribune 22 August 2016 Retrieved 25 August 2016 Fighting breaks out near Wau town Radio Tamazuj 11 September 2016 Archived from the original on 2016 09 13 Retrieved 14 September 2016 SPLM IO blames government over renewed clashes in Wau Sudan Tribune 14 September 2016 Retrieved 21 September 2016 a b Government restricting humanitarian aid outside Wau Radio Tamazuj 23 September 2016 Archived from the original on 2016 09 24 Retrieved 24 September 2016 Wau state governor in talks with armed groups to end hostilities Sudan Tribune 19 September 2016 Retrieved 21 September 2016 Clashes erupt at Bringi south of Wau town Radio Tamazuj 22 September 2016 Archived from the original on 2016 09 23 Retrieved 23 September 2016 Relative calm returns to Wau town after clashes Radio Tamazuj 27 September 2016 Archived from the original on 2016 09 28 Retrieved 27 September 2016 Wau state governor in talks with armed groups to end hostilities Sudan Tribune 24 September 2016 Retrieved 24 September 2016 Talks between Wau government and opposition ongoing Radio Tamazuj 19 October 2016 Archived from the original on 2016 12 20 Retrieved 24 January 2017 Thousands of South Sudanese IDPs Take Shelter at Church in Wau Voice of America 13 December 2016 Retrieved 24 January 2017 a b Wau governor vows unfettered humanitarian access to affected areas Sudan Tribune 20 January 2017 Retrieved 24 January 2017 Fresh clashes erupt in different parts of South Sudan Radio Tamazuj 20 December 2016 Archived from the original on 2017 02 02 Retrieved 25 January 2017 Wau governor urges opposition fighters to join Taban Deng Radio Tamazuj 27 December 2016 Archived from the original on 2017 02 02 Retrieved 24 January 2017 Wau official says security situation is stable Radio Tamazuj 29 December 2016 Archived from the original on 2017 02 02 Retrieved 24 January 2017 SPLA IO rebels say they repulsed government attack near Wau Radio Tamazuj 23 January 2017 Retrieved 24 January 2017 CTSAMM officer brutally killed in Wau neighborhood Radio Tamazuj 25 January 2017 Archived from the original on 2017 01 25 Retrieved 25 January 2017 S Sudan ceasefire monitors say team member killed in Wau Sudan Tribune 25 January 2017 Retrieved 25 January 2017 Four arrested in Wau state over peace monitor s death Sudan Tribune 26 January 2017 Retrieved 27 January 2017 3 dead 2 wounded after exchange of gunfire outside Wau Radio Tamazuj 31 January 2017 Archived from the original on 2017 01 31 Retrieved 31 January 2017 Three people killed in Wau Tonj road attack Radio Tamazuj 14 March 2017 Archived from the original on 2017 03 20 Retrieved 19 March 2017 SPLM IO welcomes appointment of representatives in Wau state Sudan Tribune 23 March 2017 Retrieved 1 April 2017 More than 10 people killed in Wau clashes Radio Tamazuj 27 March 2017 Archived from the original on 2017 04 02 Retrieved 1 April 2017 Two rebel soldiers killed three injured in Wau clashes Radio Tamazuj 29 March 2017 Archived from the original on 2017 04 02 Retrieved 1 April 2017 a b c d e f South Sudan Civilians killed in Wau fighting Al Jazeera 10 April 2017 Retrieved 19 April 2017 a b Announcement by the Government of Wau Federal State in Opposition Nyamilepedia 11 April 2017 Retrieved 20 April 2017 Dozens of people feared dead in Mapel town Sudan Tribune 5 April 2017 Retrieved 19 April 2017 South Sudan government retakes Bagari town from rebels Radio Tamazuj 8 April 2017 Retrieved 19 April 2017 S Sudan army recaptures Bagari town from rebels Sudan Tribune 9 April 2017 Retrieved 19 April 2017 a b Michael Atit John Tanza 10 April 2017 Gunmen in Government Uniforms Go on Massacre in Wau Town Voice of America Retrieved 22 May 2017 Sporadic gunfire in Wau multiple people killed Radio Tamazuj 10 April 2017 Retrieved 19 April 2017 Death toll in Wau violence rises to 31 Radio Tamazuj 21 April 2017 Retrieved 22 April 2017 IOM 8 000 people displaced by Wau violence Radio Tamazuj 13 April 2017 Retrieved 19 April 2017 a b Cabinet orders arrest of Wau violence perpetrators Radio Tamazuj 12 April 2017 Retrieved 19 April 2017 NDM condemns targeted killings in Wau town Radio Tamazuj 13 April 2017 Retrieved 19 April 2017 South Sudan government rebels claim control of Bagari Radio Tamazuj 12 April 2017 Retrieved 19 April 2017 South Sudanese rival forces trade control of Bagari town area Sudan Tribune 13 April 2017 Retrieved 19 April 2017 South Sudan s Kiir replaces army chief Paul Malong Al Jazeera 9 May 2017 Retrieved 22 May 2017 Man found dead in Wau neighborhood Radio Tamazuj 1 May 2017 Retrieved 22 May 2017 Talks between Tonj Dinka and Luo communities get underway Sudan Tribune 8 June 2017 Retrieved 19 June 2017 Wau citizens report insecurity at night Radio Tamazuj 30 June 2017 Retrieved 20 July 2017 150 former SPLA IO forces return to Wau town Sudan Tribune 8 August 2017 Retrieved 18 August 2017 Houses burnt to ashes in tribal fight in Marial Bai County Wau State Radio Tamazuj 1 August 2017 Retrieved 18 August 2017 Doctor arrested in Wau after ruling out food poisoning in army officer s death Radio Tamazuj 13 December 2017 Retrieved 1 January 2018 a b Hunger kills 17 people in S Sudan s Wau state official Sudan Tribune 4 August 2017 Retrieved 18 August 2017 12 children die of malnutrition in Wau Radio Tamazuj 23 August 2017 Retrieved 24 August 2017 Hunger death toll in S Sudan s Wau state hits 27 Sudan Tribune 23 August 2017 Retrieved 24 August 2017 136 IDPs from Besselia arrive in Wau PoC Radio Tamazuj 11 August 2017 Retrieved 18 August 2017 Rebel Governor blames Juba s regime for starvation of civilians in Wau South Sudan News Agency 7 August 2017 Archived from the original on 2017 08 18 Retrieved 18 August 2017 Kiir s aid did not reach Besselia County says commissioner Radio Tamazuj 22 August 2017 Retrieved 24 August 2017 Hunger situation improves in Besselia County official Radio Tamazuj 4 September 2017 Retrieved 30 September 2017 Over 150 hungry people from Bazia flee to Agok Wau State Radio Tamazuj 11 September 2017 Retrieved 30 September 2017 Back from Wau UN South Sudan envoy says security improved people returning home UN News Centre 14 September 2017 Retrieved 30 September 2017 Fresh inter communal clashes erupt between Apuk South and Kuac South Counties Radio Tamazuj 6 September 2017 Retrieved 30 September 2017 3 women kidnapped in Gogrial state tortured freed Radio Tamazuj 23 August 2017 Retrieved 30 September 2017 Wau governor accuses former officials of fueling conflict Radio Tamazuj 8 September 2017 Retrieved 30 September 2017 President Kiir fires Wau state governor Radio Tamazuj 15 September 2017 Retrieved 30 September 2017 Wau former governor says his removal was a normal measure Sudan Tribune 16 September 2017 Retrieved 30 September 2017 400 firearms collected from civilians in Marial Bai County Radio Tamazuj 2 October 2017 Retrieved 1 January 2018 Over 145 firearms collected from civilians in Marial Bai County Radio Tamazuj 4 December 2017 Retrieved 1 January 2018 4 killed in revenge attack in Kuajena County Radio Tamazuj 1 March 2018 Retrieved 14 June 2018 21 dead in tribal clashes over cattle theft in Tonj Radio Tamazuj 28 February 2018 Retrieved 14 June 2018 Wau state authorities releases nine war prisoners Sudan Tribune 1 November 2017 Retrieved 1 January 2018 Governors of Wau and Tambura to open road linking two states Radio Tamazuj 11 December 2017 Retrieved 1 January 2018 First Violations Reported of South Sudan s New Cease Fire Voice of America Associated Press 24 December 2017 Retrieved 2 January 2018 a b S Sudan s 5th infantry division alert for imminent attacks Sudan Tribune 8 June 2017 Retrieved 19 June 2017 Former South Sudan military chief Gen Malong launches rebel group The Independent 10 April 2018 Retrieved 14 June 2018 Army officer linked to Paul Malong joins rebels Radio Tamazuj 2 February 2018 Retrieved 14 June 2018 Gun battle between government forces erupts in Mayom Radio Tamazuj 31 May 2018 Retrieved 14 June 2018 Stephen Buay captured in fighting in Mayom Radio Tamazuj 31 May 2018 Retrieved 14 June 2018 a b c d e f South Sudan Soldiers Attack Civilians in Western Region Human Rights Watch 24 October 2018 Retrieved 28 October 2019 Zenebe Teklewold 9 June 2018 Wau Some displaced people returning home others still fearful UNMISS Retrieved 14 June 2018 South Sudan Current January 2018 and Projected Feb Apr 2018 May July 2018 Acute Food Insecurity and Acute Malnutrition Situation PDF Food and Agriculture Organization June 2018 Retrieved 19 June 2018 Jason Patinkin 15 May 2018 Ceasefire monitors accuse South Sudan forces rebels of civilian killings Reuters Retrieved 19 June 2018 Rebels accuse government of fresh attack in Ngo Baggari Radio Tamazuj 15 June 2018 Retrieved 19 June 2018 SPLM IO accuses South Sudan army of fresh attacks in Wau Sudan Tribune 26 June 2018 Retrieved 26 June 2018 South Sudan Cease fire Violated Within Hours The New York Times Associated Press 30 June 2018 Retrieved 2 July 2018 Government opposition trade accusations over ceasefire violation Radio Tamazuj 30 June 2018 Retrieved 2 July 2018 South Sudanese warring parties exchange accusations of breaching ceasefire Sudan Tribune 1 July 2018 Retrieved 2 July 2018 IOM Over 31 500 people remain displaced in Wau Radio Tamazuj 6 July 2018 Retrieved 19 September 2018 Fresh fighting erupts in Wau despite ceasefire Radio Tamazuj 20 July 2018 Retrieved 19 September 2018 Humanitarian convoy reaches insecure areas in Wau Radio Tamazuj 6 September 2018 Retrieved 19 September 2018 Commissioner s top security guard shot dead in Baggari County Radio Tamazuj 6 August 2018 Retrieved 19 September 2018 Parties agree to cease hostilities in Wau Radio Tamazuj 31 January 2019 Retrieved 28 October 2019 Michael Atit 21 May 2019 Civilian Military Relations Improve in South Sudan s Wau Voice of America Retrieved 28 October 2019 Kiir apologizes to Wau people for South Sudan five year war Sudan Tribune 6 March 2019 Retrieved 29 October 2019 SPLA IO says its troops arrived at Wau assembly point Radio Tamazuj 28 May 2019 Retrieved 28 October 2019 Boswell 2019 p 13 Works cited edit Blocq Daniel S 2017 The grassroots nature of counterinsurgent tribal militia formation the case of the Fertit in Southern Sudan 1985 1989 In David M Anderson Oystein H Rolandsen eds Politics and Violence in eastern Africa The Struggles of Emerging States Abingdon on Thames New York City Routledge pp 172 186 ISBN 978 1 138 05961 0 Boswell Alan October 2019 Rebecca Bradshaw ed Insecure Power and Violence The Rise and Fall of Paul Malong and the Mathiang Anyoor PDF HSBA Briefing Paper Geneva Small Arms Survey Vuylsteke Sarah December 2018 Identity and Self determination The Fertit Opposition in South Sudan PDF HSBA Briefing Paper Geneva Small Arms Survey Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 2016 2019 Wau clashes amp oldid 1214187677, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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