Gatluak Gai
Gatluak Gai | |
|---|---|
| Born | South Sudan |
| Allegiance | Sudan People's Liberation Army |
Gatluak Gai(died 23 July 2011) was a member of theSudan People's Liberation Army(SPLA) who rebelled after the April 2010 elections and led a renegade militia in the volatileUnity stateofSouth Sudan.
Gatluak was of Nuer origin, fromKoch County. He was a relatively junior SPLA officer on the payroll of the Unity state prisons department. He was said to have wanted to become the Koch county commissioner, but lost this opportunity whenTaban Deng Gaiwas appointed governor of Unity state in 2008. In theApril 2010 general elections,Taban Deng Gai successfully defended his governorship[1]against challengerAngelina Teny,wife of South Sudan vice presidentRiek Machar.Gatluak Gai did not accept the election results,[2]which were widely seen as flawed.[1] Although Angelina Teny disputed the election results, she disclaimed any connection with Gatluak Gai's rebellion.[3]
In late May 2010, Gatluak Gai's forces attacked an SPLA base atAwarpinginAbiemnom County.[1] It was suspected that Gatluak Gai led the forces responsible for attacks that killed over 35 people, including many civilians, inKoch County.Gai was residing inKhartoumat this time.[4] There were conflicting rumors about the sources of Gai's forces and arms.[1] As of January 2011 talks were in progress with different people who claimed to represent Gai, but the situation was extremely obscure.[5] Gai signed a peace agreement with the SPLA on 20 July 2011. He would have rejoined the SPLA as a lieutenant general. Three days later he was shot to death in Koch county.[6] At first the SPLA was blamed for the death. However, on 24 July, Marko Chuol Ruei, second in command of the rebelSouth Sudan Liberation Army(SSLA), said he had killed Gai. Ruei claimed that Gai had told his forces to ignore the peace agreement, to not join the SPLA but instead to join forces from North Sudan. Ruei said the SSLA had been negotiating with Khartoum for supply of munitions, but had been told they would first have to join the rebel militias led byPeter GadetandBapiny Monytuel.[2]
At the time of his death, Gatluak Gai was in his 50s. He had an imposing, physical presence. Another rebel leader, GeneralPeter Gadet,was married to one of Gai's daughters.[7]
References
[edit]- ^abcd"Gatluak Gai's Rebellion, Unity State"(PDF).Small Arms Survey.July 2011. Archived from the original on 2 April 2012.Retrieved12 September2011.
{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^abBonifacio Taban Kuich (25 July 2011)."Militia Deputy Admits Killing of His Leader Gutluak".Sudan Tribune.Retrieved12 September2011.
- ^"Angelina Teny says she has no any connection with Gatluak Gai rebellion".South Sudan Net.10 June 2010. Archived fromthe originalon 2 April 2012.Retrieved12 September2011.
- ^Machien J. Luoi (18 November 2010)."Koch County Insurgency Is A National Security Issue".Retrieved12 September2011.
- ^Mayank Bubna (6 January 2011)."UNITY STATE: SECURITY FEARS AMID REFERENDUM HOPES - PART 2".Relief Web.Retrieved12 September2011.
- ^"Update: South Sudan rebel leader Gatluak Gai killed in mysterious circumstances".Sudan Tribune.Juba. 23 July 2011.Retrieved26 February2013.
- ^James Copnall (23 July 2011)."South Sudan rebel Gatluak Gai killed after peace deal".BBC News.Retrieved12 September2011.