South Sudanese President Salva Kiir Mayardit has pardoned six different forces that took up arms against the government since independence, absolving them of crimes for mutiny and rebellion but not instating them into any positions of power.
The six rebel forces pardoned inclusive of officers and men are those led by Maj. Gen. Gordon Kong, Maj. Gen. David Yau-Yau, Maj. Gen. Oyuok Ogot, Maj-Gen. Bapiny Monytuil Wicjang, Maj-Gen. Johnson Olony and Maj-Gen. Munto Abdhalla Munto.
The decree itself does not mark the end of the process of negotiations with the rebels but rather more of a first step. Most of the forces named have been active in either Jonglei, Upper Nile or Unity states.
Kiir’s order makes no mention of political questions of disbandment or absorption into the regular forces, but the latter possibility may be implied from the labeling of each commander as having rank of major-general.
Photo: Soldiers of the late rebel commander George Athor (Radio Tamazuj)