Thursday, December 12, 2013

The Rise and Fall of Insurgent Militias in South Sudan

The Small Arms Survey published in November 2013 a detailed report titled "Pendulum Swings: The Rise and Fall of Insurgent Militias in South Sudan."  It concludes that southern rebel insurgencies decreased significantly in 2012-13.  As of early October 2013, only David Yau Yau's militia remained active.  But while most commanders have accepted President Salva Kiir's amnesty, it remains to be seen whether the resulting agreements will be fully implemented and the forces fully integrated into the SPLA.  The report also stated that many of the arms and much of the ammunition still in use by the rebels are of Chinese, Iranian and Sudanese origin, supplied by the government in Khartoum.