SSDF rebels who returned recently to South Sudanese soil in Upper Nile State say they are prepared for peace talks with a security delegation that arrived from Juba on Monday.

Talks were expected Tuesday after the arrival of government representatives to Dabah in Manyo County yesterday. However, there appears to be no clear roadmap yet for the negotiations and there is disagreement about whether they should be held in Juba or Dabah.

The delegation from Juba is led by Akol Kur, NSS director for internal security, while other members include Tijwok Athar Agwet, former presidential advisor for religious affairs, and Lt-Gen. Johnson Gony Bilieu, commander of Malakal sector SPLA forces.

SSDF is represented by Ayuok Ogat, Willian Deng Gwere, Yuhanas Okich, Musa Dowla, and others.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj, sources among the rebels said that they did not agree on a roadmap for the peace talks as the government delegation stated that they had come merely to receive the rebels and that further talks will be held in Juba.

“The GOSS delegation left to Malakal and said that they will come on Tuesday to start the talks and we are going to wait for them,” said one of the senior officers on the SSDF side.

Another source who was among the people who attended the preliminary talks told Radio Tamazuj that the discussion was tough as the two parties failed to agree on the roadmap. The government wants the rebels to go to Juba to negotiate while the rebels insist on having the negotiations done in Dabah. The two sources indicated that complications prevented inking any deal during the first sitting.

“What we know is that today Monday we are to discuss the peace talks but as the GOSS delegation rescheduled for Tuesday we will wait and see what will happen next,” said an SSDF officer during the talks in Dabah.

He further said that many meetings were conducted by both sides on Monday night as they look forward to ironing out their differences.

Motive for the rebellion

In an interview with Radio Tamazuj from Dabah on Sunday, SSDF leader Ayuok Ogat who was the former commissioner of Manyo County explained that they took up arms against the Government of South Sudan in order to fight corruption and injustice that is widely practiced by GOSS officials.

“I did not pick up the gun against anybody but to fight corruption and injustice that has killed our country,” said the SSDF leader.

The leader said that they had initiated communication with top leaders in Juba a long time ago. “I talked to President Salva Kiir and we met before in Kenya for the same talks before George Ator died,” he noted.

It has been noted that the former commissioner took up arms when he lost his post to the current commissioner of Manyo County Al Taib Okec, with whom he reportedly had a personal dispute. The SSDF leader denied this, however, telling Radio Tamazuj, “I am not against anybody – if it was for the sake of one person there would be no need to have these men and this equipment.”

Reintegration

Although the rebel leader says that he will return to the SSDF base in Hamra after the talks, in order to either remain there or to collect the remainder of his troops there, SPLA commanders expressed skepticism as to the claim that SSDF still has a substantial contingent in Sudan.

The operation commander of Kaka Brigade James Riek Ruac briefed the head of 1st brigade of Division 7 Brig-Gen James Gai Galuak whose arrival to that position coincided with the coming of the rebels, together with his deputy Col. John Moror.

They were told that the roll lists given to SPLA by the rebels put their number at 215 soldiers and 13 army vehicles. This number was higher than the number that actually reported to Dabah, however.

“What we saw is different from what they told us – they have one big lorry and six Land Cruisers mounted with guns and the soldiers they have is less than what they reported,” he said

The officer also reported that the SSDF had been on good conduct since their arrival at Dabah, not having any problems with the SPLA fighters. During the talks there was even some humor and a spirit of camaraderie.

When the Brigade Commander James Gai Galuak entered the room where Ayouk Ogat was waiting, they instantly recognized each other and burst into laughter.

“All the forces are from SPLA with no other face from anywhere else. We are SPLA and we still remain SPLA,” said Ogat.

Photo: SSDF leader Ayuok Ogat with commanders in Dabah, Manyo County, 7 October 2013 (Radio Tamazuj)

Related coverage: Militia causes panic while entering Manyo County (6 October 2013)

UPDATE, 21:00 9 October: The SSDF group has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of South Sudan and some of their members have flown to Malakal to proceed with further negotiations.