SUMMARY

SSUM/A (South Sudan Unity Movement/Army) was a militia constituting an important component of SSDF (South Sudan Defense Force), a loosely organized coalition of (mainly pro-governmental) forces active in South Sudan. For details on SSDF, see its actor description in the UCDP database.

Most activities of SSUM/A were concentrated to the oil-rich areas of Unity State. As such, one main activity performed by the group being the protection of oil fields on behalf of the Government of Sudan and its oil concessionaries. Further, SSUM/A, as all other component members of SSDF, has been in relatively good relations with the government of Sudan, receiving various forms of support from the Sudanese officials, in exchange for fighting SPLM/A (Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement/Army).

A series of struggles for power between Riek Machar and Paulino Matip after 2000 led to the marginalization and then departure of Machar by 2002. In the aftermath of the events SSUM/A became by-and-large the dominant and powerful component of SSDF, with Paulino Matip becoming Chief of Staff (leader of the armed components) within SSDF. SSUM/A got integrated in SPLM/A in the aftermath of the Juba Declaration on 8 Januray 2006, and Paulino Matip became SPLM/As vice commander-in-chief.

Throughout its history, SSUM/A was under the leadership of Paulino Matip. Most SSUM/A members were originally part of the Bul Nuer ancestry.

SSUM/A has been involved in the non-state category of UCDP organised violence.