Peter Gadet

Peter Gatdet Yak (or Gadet) is a former Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) general who is now the leader of the South Sudan Liberation Army (SSLA), a rebel movement in South Sudan.[1][2][3] He was born between 1957 and 1959 in Mayom County, South Sudan.[4]

Career

General Gadet was a member of the South Sudan Defence Forces (SSDF) during the Second Sudanese Civil War. He joined the SPLA after the Juba Declaration of 8 January 2006, but said that he was marginalized and that the army was dominated by tribal nepotism. In April 2011 Gadet emerged as leader of the South Sudan Liberation Army (SSLA), a new militia demanding a more broadly-based government.[5] In Unity State, he began an assault on the SPLA, leaving at least 45 people dead.[6] According to the military, 20 of the victims were southern army soldiers.[7]

In August 2011, SSLA's spokesperson has said that the movement has declared a ceasefire with the government.[1] Gadet integrated his forces into the army and became the 8th Division Commander.[8]

South Sudanese Civil War

Amidst the South Sudanese Civil War, he mutinied again and his mainly Nuer militia claimed control of Bor, South Sudan. Riek Machar claims Gadet has been installed as military governor of Jonglei.[9] In July 2014, the European Union imposed sanctions on Gadet accusing him of leading an attack of the town of Bentiu, in which about 400 people were killed in the 2014 Bentiu massacre.[10]

On 11 August 2015, Gabriel Tang,[11] Gathoth Gatkuoth, the former SPLM-IO logistics chief, and Peter Gadet, announced that they had split from Riek Machar, believing him to be "seeking power for himself". They rejected ongoing peace talks and announced that they would now combat Riek Machar's forces in addition to government forces, saying, "They (Riek Machar and President Salva Kiir) are symbols of hate, division and failed leadership, both leaders were responsible for starting the crisis."[12] Gathoth Gatkuoth states he wishes for a President who is neither Dinka nor Nuer. Gatkuoth states that he intends to register his group as a political group called the "Federal Democractic Party".[13] Peter Gadet became Chairman of the Military Command Council of FDP/South Sudan Armed Forces.[14]

Personal life

He is an ethnic Nuer. His wife is the daughter of Gatluak Gai, a rebel general.[15] He is also on the board of advisers of the US-based Jarch Management Group, which has obtained oil concessions on large areas of land in South Sudan.[16]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "South Sudan's SSLA Unity State rebels' ceasefire". bbcnews.com. 2011-08-03. Retrieved 2011-08-14.
  2. ↑ "S. Sudan army criticizes Peter Gadet over "Mayom" defection declaration". Sudantribune.com. Retrieved 2011-04-26.
  3. ↑ "SPLA set fire to more than 7000 homes in Unity says Mayom country official". sudantribune.com. Retrieved 2011-08-06.
  4. ↑ "Council Implementing Decision (CFSP) 2015/1118 of 9 July 2015 implementing Decision 2015/740/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in South Sudan". EUR-Lex.
  5. ↑ "New Rebel Group Calls to Overthrow South Sudan Government". Sudan Tribune. 13 April 2011. Retrieved 2011-08-04.
  6. ↑ "South Sudan clashes between army and militia kill 57". BBCnews.com. 2011-04-24. Retrieved 2011-04-26.
  7. ↑ "Dozens killed in South Sudan clash". Aljazeera.net/english. Retrieved 2011-04-26.
  8. ↑ "Nine questions about the South Sudan crisis". radiotamazuj.org. 19 December 2013. Archived from the original on 20 December 2013. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  9. ↑ "South Sudan rebel Riek Machar 'controls key state". newstalk931.com. 21 December 2013. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
  10. ↑ "EU Sanctions South Sudan Militia Leader, Army Commander". voanews.com. 11 July 2014. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  11. ↑ "Top rebel commander killed in clashes in Upper Nile". Radio Tamazuj. Archived from the original on 9 January 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  12. ↑ "South Sudan rebels split, reject peace efforts". News. Yahoo. 11 August 2015.
  13. ↑ "South Sudan General Gathoth Gatkuoth explains to Karin Zeitvogel why he broke with Riek Machar". voanews.com. 12 August 2015. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  14. ↑ "Changson dismisses Gathoth Gatkuoth as FDP group splits over advance team to Juba". Sudan Tribune. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  15. ↑ Copnall, James (23 July 2011). "South Sudan rebel Gatluak Gai killed after peace deal". BBC. Retrieved 23 July 2011.
  16. ↑ "Profile: South Sudan army defector Peter Gadet". bbcnews.co.uk. 20 December 2013. Retrieved 21 December 2013.


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