SUMMARY
SSDM/A (South Sudan Defence Movement/Army) was an armed rebel group that initially sought to overthrow the Government of Sudan. It was created by George Athor in 2010, after he lost an election in Jonglei state, which he claimed was rigged. Therefore, the SSDM/A contended that the subsequent Government of Sudan formed was illegitimate and demanded that it be dissolved with new elections held. Following clashes with the Government of Sudan, a ceasefire agreement was signed in January 2011 but this failed to hold (see Government of Sudan – SSDM/A. When Jonglei state became part of independent South Sudan on 9 July 2011, official authority over the area was transferred to the Government of South Sudan. Consequently, the SSDM/A continued its rebellion against the ruling government over Jonglei state, which was now the Government of South Sudan. Therefore, violence involving the SSSDM/A after this date is then included in the South Sudan government conflict [see Government of South Sudan – SSDM/A. A peace agreement between the SSDM/A and Government of South Sudan ended the conflict in February 2012 and integrated the SSDM/A troops into the forces of the Government of South Sudan.
The SSDM/A was based in Jonglei state where most clashes occurred, although some arose in the neighboring state of Upper Nile. Its members comprised dissident SPLM/A members, including notable ex-commanders like Athor, who had also failed to attain political positions from the 2010 government elections. Some of these notable ex-SPLM/A commanders that joined SSDM/A included: David Yau Yau in Pibor county, Jonglei state; Gatluak Gai in Unity state; as well as Alyuak Ogot and Johnson Olony, two Shilluk commanders from Upper Nile state. Loyal rank-and-file troops also followed the ex-commanders who joined the SSDM/A.
The SSDM/A had a military wing called the South Sudan Army and it was estimated to have 2000 troops. There was speculation that SSDM/A troops were armed to an extent, from weapons collected in Jonglei state during the SPLM/A disarmament process in 2006.
Lieutenant General George Athor was founder and leader of SSDM/A. He had formerly been a senior commander of the SPLM/A and then became an unsuccessful independent candidate in the elections for Governor of Jonglei state in 2010. He led the SSDM/A until being killed whilst entering South Sudan from Uganda on 18 December 2011. Subsequently, Peter Kuol Chol Awan succeeded Athor as leader of SSDM/A. The SSDM/A claimed that the Government of Uganda was responsible for the assassination of Athor, although both the Government of Uganda and the Government of South Sudan denied this allegation.
The Government of Sudan was accused of supporting groups fighting against the Government of South Sudan including the SSDM/A. Although the Sudan government denied these accusations, there was strong evidence that the government had provided logistical support and arms to the SSDM/A. For example, SSDM/A weapons matched those of the Sudanese government forces. Such support was motivated by the hostile relations between the Government of South Sudan and the Government of Sudan; both governments supported each other’s rebel groups despite both denying such allegations. In 2011, this support was given to the SSDM/A both before and after the formal independence of South Sudan on 9 July. Additionally, the Government of Eritrea was also suspected of providing support to the SSDM/A.
