Jonglei rebel leader Yau Yau demands “our own State”
Last week South Sudan said that fighting had ceased between government forces and the long-time rebel David Yau Yau. Fighting between government forces and the rebels claimed many lives and displaced of thousands of civilians -- mainly children and women -- in Jonglei State.
Speaking for the first time after accepting cessation of hostilities with the government in an exclusive interview with the United Nations owned radio, Miraya FM, on January 11, Yau Yau said he is ready for reconciliation with government so long as his demands are catered for.
David Yau Yau
He wants to form a state in Pibor County, which is occupied mainly by the Murle tribe, in South Sudan’s largest and most populous state, Jonglei.
It is to have our own State,” Yau Yau said. This is our demand. We don’t have any other on top of this.”
His demands come as the South Sudanese government forces are being battled in a number of states by rebel forces loyal to Riek Machar, a long-time political rival to President Salva Kiir.
Pibor County has a population of less than 200,000 people mainly cattle keepers. The Murle ethnic group is regarded as warriors by the Dinka and the Nuer groups, South Sudan’s two largest tribes.
Yau Yau said that, granting Pibor ‘state status’ would help solve the main problems the Murle people face, such as lack of infrastructure and other basic needs.
On January 6, the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) Spokesman Col. Philip Aguer explained that, Yau Yau for the last two months, has undertaken steps for confidence building and have been cooperating with SPLA forces in Pibor and Likuangole where his fighters are concentrated.
Aguer hailed the end of fighting a step forward for the region and said that the process was helped by meditation by religious leaders under the auspices of South Sudan’s catholic retired Archbishop Paride Taban.
Philip Aguer
He added that, the move was designed to allow humanitarian services to an area where locals lack basics due to recurrent conflict.
Yau Yau described his contact with the government in the past few months as a beginning of a dialogue”, saying it will make the two sides stay in harmony and be one [nation]”.
Yau Yau was an SPLA officer before but defected after loosing the 2010 election in what was then Sudan.
Yau Yau accused the ruling SPLM party of rigging votes in favour of his opponent and launched his violent rebellion against the government.
Until recently he rejected President Salva Kiir’s offers to pardon him. Several rebel leaders like Peter Gadet, Galuak, among others accepted the president’s deal.
He told Miraya FM that we have been struggling to find it [peace talks with the government] a thing that will help us”.
He distanced himself from forces headed by the ex Vice President Riek Machar who have been fighting government forces in many states following an alleged coup attempt in December, 2013.
We are a group waiting for some issues to be given into our hands […] that is why we have not joined the recent movement run by Riek Machar and the other group because their stand is different from ours,” Yau Yau explained.
Yau Yau also said he was not supported with weapons or assistance from the Sudanese government. South Sudan has repeatedly accused the Khartoum government of supporting Yau Yau with fire arms in what it says is a bid to destabilise the young country.
