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Sudan
THE SUDANESE PEOPLE'S LIBERATION ARMY
The SPLA was formed in 1983 when Lieutenant Colonel John Garang
of the SPAF was sent to quell a mutiny in Bor of 500 southern
troops who were resisting orders to be rotated to the north. Instead
of ending the mutiny, Garang encouraged mutinies in other garrisons
and set himself at the head of the rebellion against the Khartoum
government. Garang, a Dinka born into a Christian family, had
studied at Grinnell College, Iowa, and later returned to the United
States to take a company commanders' course at Fort Benning, Georgia,
and again to earn advanced economics degrees at Iowa State University.
By 1986 the SPLA was estimated to have 12,500 adherents organized
into twelve battalions and equipped with small arms and a few
mortars. Recruits were trained across the border in Ethiopia,
probably with the help of Ethiopian army officers. By 1989 the
SPLA's strength had reached 20,000 to 30,000; by 1991 it was estimated
at 50,000 to 60,000. Many members of the SPLA continued their
civilian occupations, serving in individual campaigns when called
upon. At least forty battalions had been formed, bearing such
names as Tiger, Crocodile, Fire, Nile, Kalishnikov, Bee, Eagle,
and Hippo.
In addition to Garang, who as commander in chief adopted the
rank of colonel, other senior officers included a field commander,
a chief of staff, and a chief of staff for administration and
logistics. Most of these officers, as well as zonal commanders,
held the rank of lieutenant colonel, while battalion commanders
were majors or captains. Promotion was based on seniority and
the number of battles fought. Consequently, most of the senior
leadership and field commanders were members of the Dinka group.
Others were from the Nuer and Shilluk groups. Members of some
other groups from Al Istiwai were given commands to help win over
members of their groups.
The SPLA claimed that its arms came from captured government
stocks or were brought by troops deserting from the SPAF. It admitted
to having received a considerable amount of support and matériel
from Libya before 1985 because of Libya's hostility toward Nimeiri
and its desire to see him overthrown. It denied receiving arms
from Ethiopia, although it operated from bases in Ethiopia, and
outside observers believed that that country furnished the bulk
of the SPLA's weaponry. The government's claims that the SPLA
had Israeli advisers and received equipment from Israel were generally
discounted. Its small arms included Soviet, United States, and
German assault rifles. According to The Military Balance,
1991-92, the SPLA also had 60mm mortars, 14.5mm antiaircraft
guns, and Soviet SA-7 shoulder-fired SAMs. Other sources claimed
that the SPLA had captured or otherwise acquired howitzers, heavier
mortars, BM-21 truckmounted rocket launchers, jeep-mounted 106mm
antitank recoilless rifles, and about twenty armored vehicles.
It had a supply of land mines that were widely used.
Amnesty International and Africa Watch have cited deliberate
killings by the SPLA of SPAF and militia prisoners captured in
combat, and of civilians believed to be informers or opposed to
the insurgency movement. Although about 300 government troops
were being held by the SPLA as of mid-1989, there were reports
that after the capture of Bor, surrendering soldiers, possibly
numbering in the hundreds, were shot. Indiscriminate SPLA rocket
and mortar attacks on government-held towns resulted in many civilian
casualties.
Data as of June 1991
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