Rebel group denies merger

A senior official of the Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SPDF) has denied claims of a merger between the SPDF and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), the two main southern rebel groups. The merger was announced in a declaration issued in Nairobi on Monday, signed by members of the peace committees representing the groups.

In a press statement released in Nairobi the same day, the SPDF described the declaration as “premature”, and said that the member who signed on its behalf “was not authorised by the leadership”. The declaration was signed on behalf of the SPDF by the chairman of the SPDF peace committee, Taban Deng Gai, and for the SPLA, his counterpart, Justin Yaac, sources said.

The two peace committees have been meeting for “the last four to five months” to bring about the unity of the southern forces, Samson Kwaje of the SPLA told IRIN. “This backtracking by the SPDF is unfortunate, but, as far as the SPLA is concerned, the declaration is binding,” he said.
Simon Kun Puk, a member of the SPDF peace committee, told IRIN that his group considered the declaration “null and void” and not binding on the SPDF. He said he hoped that despite “this inappropriate action” the unity talks will continue.

Taban Deng Gai told IRIN that “he was fully authorised to sign the declaration” and that there was no split within the organisation.
The SPDF split from the SPLA in 1991, along tribal lines. The SPLA is dominated by the Dinka tribe, while the SPDF is dominated by the Nuer, sources said.

The Sudanese government described the matter as “an internal rebel matter”, and would not comment on it.