SMOKING GUNS IN MALAKAL

The chronological arm conflict in Malakal since 2006, although the events look different, the root causes are the same. The town has gone through four shoot out in which the civilians were the victims.

These shootings happened when Nuers were in office as governors. A Nuer as governor and Nuer as a native seem to have the same mentality of war. They do not have the culture of conflict resolution and peaceful co-existence. The Nuer intellectuals do not have impact on their illiterate community. They do not even know what is rule of law because back home where they came from. The situation is that of survival of the fitters. The weak is dominated by the strong. When translating this into towns, then public funds become private and prerogative of the governor. Public treasure becomes custodian of who is on the chair.

 

The above synopses explained the reason why there are smoking guns in Malakal. The first shoot out in November 2006, when General Gabriel Tanginye were attached to SAF forces in the town. Forces of Gabriel joined SAF and became part of JIUs. The reason of the attackers, if true was because his Deputy joined SPLM/A, and was appointed Commissioner of Fanjak in Jonglei State which has nothing to do with Malakal. It was Tanginye forces first provoked SPLA and in retaliation SPLA took over the Army HQs east of the town.

 

Due to lack of vision from the Governor Dak Doup Bichok, the root causes of this conflict were not properly address. Gabriel Tanginge was exiled to Khartoum while his forces remained in Malakal. A statement was issued by President Salva Kiir that Gabriel if seen in any part of the South must be arrested, but no warrant of arrest issued.

 

The second episode of shooting in Malakal occurred in February/March 2009 when Tanginge arrived on private visit. As a general in Sudan Army, he was in possession of travel permit. The governor in office was Gatluak Deng Garang. He could not comprehend the motive behind the visit. With orders from Juba to capture Tanginye, SPLA immediately, mobilized and went on action in an attempt to execute the orders. They faced stiff resistance from Tanginye forces. SPLA was forced to retreat and Tanginye went to Khartoum. The conflict remained unresolved although many civilians lost their lives and properties.

 

The third shoot out recently in February 2011 was when the Ethiopian Nuer Governor Simon Kun Pouch is currently in office. The dispute was between SAF JIUs when the Nuer JIUs Militias refused to go North SAF colleagues. They demanded that they should be given their pension in Malakal. They demanded if they are not paid their pension then the weapons belonging to SAF should remain in Malakal to settle their pension.

 

If the governor had vision he could have intervene to amicably solve the problem, salvage Malakal from such catastrophe of shoot out since those who objected to go North are his tribesmen. Instead these soldiers went on rampage and killed civilians who are Shilluk and northerners.

 

The fourth shoot out which occurred at dawn on a Saturday was of different kind. The authorities quickly attributed the attack to Olony, the Shilluk militant. In order to understand it better, it would be better to flash back on who is Olony.

 

Olony was an officer in SPLA. When CPA was signed in 2005, he opted to voluntarily retire to civilian life and started his own business. He opened a restaurant bar in Canal area and with some his friends organized fishing cooperative.

 

The problem to Olony arose when President Salva Kiir gave canal area to Dinka and made it Pigi County. Somebody by name Otheth a Dinka/Shilluk guy did not want Olony plus seventeen other Shilluk youth in canal area. With support of SPLA security these guys were force out of the canal but after they put some resistance with exchange of fire arms in which Otheth lost his life. The properties of Olony were destroyed and they relocated themselves to Obel 3. They continue their fishing activities but dangerous because they were being shot at during the night. Olony and his group move to Malakal to settle.

 

Olony was in Malakal ever since until recently when he reemerged as Military Commander. Probably he was armed by the authorities in Malakal. His constant visitors were the Chief of Police, Director of Internal Security and Security Advisor of the Governor. Upper Government provided him with logistics, food and weapons. They were present at the river side when Olony was relocated to Dhothim (Duo) a site between two SPLA camps of Owaci for the purpose of re-integration into SPLA ranks. A day before the reintegration, Olony and his group not more than 200 were attached by SPLA on two fronts which force them to move out into inner land. The where about of the remnants of Olony army is not known.

 

SPLM was quick to smear Olony that he is the Commander of SPLM-DC militia under Dr. Lam Akol. Whether that is true needs to be ascertain although that is not part of the article. The campaign that SPLM-DC has militias started long time ago. Robert Gwang who is integrated into SPLA was one time accused to be SPLM-DC militia.

 

This leads us to fourth shoot out in Malakal in March. It started in the early morning hours about 3:30 am to nearly 9:00 am. The authorities accused Olony to have carried the attack. But from, casualties of the attackers, they were identified as Shilluk, Nuer, Dinka, Burun, Nuba and Darfurians. So if Olony was commanding a multi-tribal force, then how that could be attributed to SPLM-DC? Since SPLM say that SPLM-DC is a Shilluk party.

 

When the attackers have already left, the Governor ordered the former SAF JIUs units (Tanginye forces) who refused to go north and was relocated to Nagdiar to come to Malakal. These forces killed and looted civilian's properties in northern part of the town. Can these acts be put on Olony? One night later, guards of governor and police chief attempted to loot BOSS bank.

 

We have to conclude here that smoking guns will never stop if still the present governor and his cabinet in office. Smoking guns have nothing to do with SPLM-DC. SPLM will have to put their house in order otherwise we will loose our independence on July 9, 2011.

Yorwin Otor can be reach at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.