Tough task reforming SPLA into disciplined, modern force

Our senior writer PATRICK MATHANGANI, who has returned from South Sudan, tells the difficulties the country is facing in transforming former rebels into a tidy, trusted, efficient army

With its history of war, South Sudan faces a huge task of transforming a guerrilla outfit into a formidable, modern military force.

The Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) was formed to wage war against domination by the North, leading to a deadly war that dragged for two decades.

Since the two sides signed a Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005, the path to reforming the SPLA into a modern, highly disciplined force has been painstakingly slow.

There is a slim distinction between the SPLA and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), which spearheaded the independence campaign. This raises concerns about political patronage, and the ability of the army to be non-partisan.

Many senior members of the government, including Cabinet ministers, are former SPLA militants.

One of the greatest hurdle for the army is that most in the army’s ranks are not educated, and barely know about modern warfare. Indeed, many southerners who fought in the liberation war still regard themselves as soldiers in the SPLA, regardless of their age or physical condition.

Indiscipline rife

Thousands have never returned their guns even after the two sides agreed to a ceasefire that will culminate in the South’s independence on July 9. The war also involved several militia groups, who also wanted their share in the national army. Under the Juba Declaration reached last year, all militia groups morphed into SPLA.

Majority of the men cannot operate modern warfare equipment and cases of indiscipline are rife.

Mr William Deng Deng, chairman of Southern Sudan Disarmament, Demobilisation, and Reintegration Commission (DDRC) said as many as 150,000 people who fought in SPLA need to be disarmed and reintegrated back to the society.

These are mostly aged, injured and uneducated.

"You just can’t disarm them and stop there. You need to train them to fit back as civilians," he said at his office in Juba. However, those dismissed have to be treated cautiously to avoid sowing seeds of discontent.

The government also has to ensure they get vocational training to enable them earn a living.

"We want to have a lean, disciplined army, which will be used for reconstruction of the country," said Deng. The process is expected to end in 2017. Deng estimates that due to the war, there are 1.5 million guns in the wrong hands.

The disarmament of civilians is being handled by the SPLA, sometimes using brute force with deadly consequences.

The SPLA is also faced with divisions and splinters within it. Several in its top ranks have rebelled, citing tribalism, political patronage and unfairness in the way the new government is being run.

Raping women

George Athor, a Lieutenant General in the SPLA remains the most known deserter who is causing headaches in Juba. When he ran for a political position in last year’s election, he accused the SPLA of rigging, and took up arms. Unconfirmed reports say he has up to 7,000 men on his side.

The divisions have caused fears of continued conflicts in the South.

In February this year, Athor’s militia was accused of killing up to 200 people when it attacked a village in Jonglei State. Yet, he had agreed to a ceasefire before the referendum held in January.

Some leaders are now accusing him of being used by President Omar al-Bashir’s government to destabilise the region.

Last year, Athor’s militia was blamed for co-operating with Khartoum in torching and looting the Shilluk Kingdom.

The soldiers were accused of raping hundreds of women and children, as well as destroying homes in a raging orgy of violence. An estimated 10,000 people were displaced when one tribe that dominates the SPLA allegedly joined the army in the violence.

There is also loud grumbling over tribal bias within the ranks of the SPLA. More than half the ranks in the new army are from two ethnic communities. This is against more than 100 tribes that make up Southern Sudan. Several other regions have faced the same fate.

"The army is so tribalised to an extent that it’s not easy to trim it," said Peter Abdelrahman Sule, chairman of the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF).

"But when someone raises a finger, they say you are being tribal."

Colonel Philip Aguer Panyang, spokesman for the SPLA, downplayed the divisions in the army, but admitted concerns about its domination by one ethnic community.

He said the Dinka and Nuer communities were the first to join the SPLA in the 1980s, resulting in larger numbers compared to the other communities.

"You need to understand the cause of this. It will be corrected in a transparent manner through recruitment based on merit," he said.

Panyang added: "This matter of tribe being brought up to us is not an issue."