SUMMARY

SPLM/A-WN (Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement/Army - William Nyuon faction) was a relatively short-lived splinter group that originated from the ranks of SPLM/A (Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement/Army). SPLM/A-WN was formed in the immediate aftermath of the Arusha reconciliation attempt of June 1992, a failed attempt by two factions of SPLM/A (John Garangs Mainstream/Torit faction and Riek Machars Nasir faction) and to achieve common ground on the issues separating the two groups.

On 27 September 1992, William Nyuon, number three in the SPLM/A hierarchy and a supporter of the Arusha reconciliation attempts, decided to contest the authority of John Garang in SPLM/A in what has been described as a violent internal coup. Nyuon was unsuccessful in his attempt, partly as support offered by Machars SPLM/A (Nasir) did not arrive in time, and, together with a group of fighters under his command, fled for Magwi, clashing with SPLM/A in the process.

In the aftermath of these events SPLM/A-WN became allied with Riek Machars SPLM/A (Nasir), and throughout 1992 and 1993 these two splinter groups conducted joint operations against the SPLM/A. Further, reports indicate collaboration between Nyuon and the government of Sudan at various points in January and August 1993, including the sheltering of Nyuon and one of his SPLM/A-WN brigades in a governmental garrison in Bor for a period of time. Additionally, throughout the existence of the group, no significant clashes were noted between the Government of Sudan and SPLM/A-WN.

The group ceased to exist in early 1994, as Nyuons faction was integrated in Riek Machars SPLM/A (Nasir), creating SPLM/A-U (SPLM/A-United). Nyuon reportedly maintained substantial autonomy within SPLM/A-U, keeping the same structure and organization as existed in SPLM/A-WN. This union, however, was itself short lived, as tensions between Machar and Nyuon increased in late 1995, leading to a break-up between the two leaders. Nyuon was assassinated by forces belonging under the command of Machar on 13 January 1996.

The leader of SPLM/A-WN was, for its entire existence, William Nyuon. Most of the command structure and membership in SPLM/A-WN was formed either by people directly under the command of Nyuon in pre-1992 SPLM/A.

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