Mathiang Anyoor

Mathiang Anyoor, also spelled Mathiang Anyur (meaning "Brown caterpillar"), also known as Dot Ke Beny (meaning "Rescue the President") is a Dinka affiliated militia group in South Sudan. It was formed as a militia of Dinkas designed to protect President Salva Kiir Mayardit and army chief Paul Malong Awan.[1] However, the SPLA claim that it is just another battalion.[2] Much of the ethnic violence against non-Dinkas in the South Sudanese Civil War is attributed to the militia. These include the Anti-Nuer pogroms where more than 200 people were killed in Juba in 2013, immediately after the alleged coup that started the war.[1] Much of the ethnic violence against Equatorians around Yei after the second Juba clashes in 2016 are attributed to Mathiang Anyoor.[2] In April 2017, Mathiang Anoor led by General Thayip Gatluak[3] attacked Wau, targeting Jur and Fertit people, killing at least 18 people.[4]

Following Paul Malong Awan's fall from power in 2017, Mathiang Anyoor units reportedly withdrew from the frontlines against the rebels in protest, most notably in the Upper Nile region. While the new army chief James Ajonga Mawut subsequently managed to convince several groups of the militia to rejoin combat against the rebels,[5] elements of Mathiang Anyoor relocated to Aweil on Malong's orders. Observers speculated that these militia forces in Aweil later joined a new rebel force, the South Sudan Patriotic Army.[6]

Notes

  1. 1 2 "Who's behind South Sudan's return to fighting?". African arguements. 11 July 2016. Retrieved 16 April 2017.
  2. 1 2 Leithead, Alastair (9 March 2017). "South Sudan conflict: 'Soldiers will kill you for no reason in Yei'". BBC. Retrieved 16 April 2017.
  3. ↑ "South Sudan's silent slaughter: Dinka massacre unchecked by regional, international groups". Fox News. 13 April 2017. Retrieved 15 April 2017.
  4. ↑ "South Sudan: Civilians killed in Wau fighting". aljazeera. 10 April 2017. Retrieved 15 April 2017.
  5. ↑ "SPLA denies 'private militia' pulled out from frontlines after sacking of Malong". Radio Tamazuj. 23 June 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  6. ↑ "BREAKING: A New Rebel Group Emerges in Northern Bhar el Ghazal, Hometown to Sacked Chief of General Staff". Nyamilepedia. 15 June 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
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