Pro-Government Militias
Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army - Nasir Faction (SPLM/A-Nasir) (Sudan)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: | no |
| PGM ID Number: | 262 |
| Country: | Sudan |
| Date formed: | Dec. 1, 1991 |
| Accuracy of date formed: | month |
| Details of Formation: | The SPLM/A-Nasir is a splinter faction of the SPLA. In 1991, Riek Machar led the Nasir faction out of the SPLA, accusing John Garang, the leader of the SPLA, of waging a dictatorial reign of terror in the group. The SPLM/A-Nasir was, in contrast to the SPLA, dominated by the Nuer ethnic group. In December 1991, the government in Khartoum announced that it was in contact with SPLM/A-Nasir and that it supported the group against the SPLA by John Garang. |
| Date dissolved: | March 27, 1993 |
| Accuracy of date dissolved: | day |
| Details of Termination: | On March 27, 1993, prominent individuals joined the group and it was renamed SPLM/A-United (Human Rights Watch). These prominent individuals joining the SPLM/A-Nasir to form the SPLM/A-United included Kerubino Kwanyin Bol and his group of ex-political detainees as well as William Nyuoun Bany and his splinter group SPLM/A Forces of Unity an Democracy. For further details, cf. separate entry for the SPLM/A-United in the PGMD. |
| Termination Type(s): | none |
Former and Successor Group Information
| Predecessor group(s): | none |
| Successor group(s): | Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army - United (SPLM/A-United) |
| Private Military Company? | no |
| Former Group? | yes |
| Former Armed Group? | yes |
| Former Rebel Group? | yes |
| Former Rebel Group UCDP ID: | 466 |
| PGM Becomes Rebel Group? | no |
| Successor Rebel Group UCDP ID: | none |
Government Relation, Support, and Training
| Government Relation: | informal (type 1) |
| Created by the Government?: | no | Main Creating Government Institution: | none |
| Government Link(s): | state (institution) |
| If link to party, name of party: | None |
| Training and Equipment: | yes |
| Shared Information and Joint Operations: | no |
| Shared Personnel: | no |
| Type(s) of Material Support: | domestic government; plunder and loot |
| State Sponsor(s): | none |
| Other Connection(s): |
Group Characteristics
| Membership: | ethnic; former rebels |
| Primary Membership: | ethnic |
| Alternative Primary Membership: | no information |
| Location: | Southern Sudan (Jonglei, Upper Nile) |
| Force Strength: | [unknown, unknown] |
| Target(s): | civilians; rebels, insurgents, or other armed group; ethnic group |
| Purpose(s): | intimidation of ethnic/religious groups; fight insurgents |
Ethnic Characteristics
| Ethnic Target(s): | Dinka (Sudan) |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Targeting: | given |
| Ethnic Membership: | Nuer (Sudan) |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Membership: | given |
| Ethnic Purpose: | Dinka (Sudan) |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Purpose: | given |
Other Information
| Other Information: | The SPLM/A-Nasir was named after Nasir town, where the failed coup to oust Garang from the SPLA was staged in August 1991. Riek Machar was Nuer, while John Garang was Dinka. Although the SPLM/A-Nasir had the stated goal of independence for the south (in contrast to John Garang’s SPLA which sought a united, socialist South) it was supported by the Khartoum government. Through the split from the SPLA, Riek Machar became a key player with regards to the oilfields in his region. (Human Rights Watch) |
New Variables from Meta-Analysis
Purpose
| Purpose: | The reason why the Khartoum government supported the SPLM/A-Nasir was the government’s policy of ethnic divide and conquer (Human Rights Watch). The SPLM/A-Nasir, by fighting other rebel groups, weakened Khartoum’s secessionist antagonists. |
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use | unknown |
Treatment of Civilians
| Treatment of Civilians: | A news source reports that SPLM/A-Nasir presence in the Dinka heartland of Bor and Kongor forced 100,000 people to flee. |
| Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: | unknown |
Reasons for Membership
| PGM Members Coerced? | no information |
| PGM Members Paid? | no information |
| Reasons for Membership: | |
| PGM Members Killed? | sometimes |
PGM Size
| Size: |
Weapons and Training
| Weapons and Training: | The SPLM/A-Nasir received ammunition from the government, delivered by aircraft. |
Organisation
| Organisation: | The leader of the SPLM/A-Nasir was Riek Machar. Other commanders included Teny Dhurgon (Dok Nuer), Gordon Kong Chuol (Eastern Jikany Nuer), and Lam Akol(Shilluk). They received clandestine military supplies and cooperated with the Khartoum government (Human Rights Watch). The clandestine cooperation included secret aircraft shipment of ammunition, flight clearance for relief planes to their areas, but not to other conflict-affected areas, or Riek Machar receiving government officials. |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Evidence
- Examine the evidence for this coding.