Sudan People's Liberation Army
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2008-06-28T18:16:33Z
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{{Distinguish2|[[Sudan Liberation Movement]] in Darfur}}
[[Image:Seal of SPLA-M.gif|right|thumb|249px|SPLA/M emblem]]
The '''Sudan People's Liberation Army''' ('''SPLA''') and its political wing, the '''Sudan People's Liberation Movement''' ('''SPLM''') – known collectively as '''Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement''' ('''SPLA/M''') – is a predominantly Christian [[Sudan]]ese [[rebel movement]] turned [[political party]]. Based in [[Southern Sudan]], SPLA/M fought in the [[Second Sudanese Civil War]] against the [[Sudanese government]] from 1983 to 2005. In 1989 it joined the main opposition group in Sudan, the [[National Democratic Alliance (Sudan)|National Democratic Alliance]] (NDA), which in January 2005 signed a [[Naivasha_Agreement|Comprehensive Peace Agreement]] with the Sudanese government. SPLA/M has since had representatives in the [[Politics of Sudan|Government of Sudan]], as well as being the main constituent of the [[Politics of Southern Sudan|Government]] of the semi-autonomous [[Southern Sudan]].
It was led by [[John Garang]] until his death on [[30 July]], [[2005]]. It is now led by [[Salva Kiir Mayardit]] who is also the [[List of Presidents of the Government of Southern Sudan|President of Southern Sudan]] and Vice President of Sudan.
== History ==
[[Image:Sudan-people-liberation-army-spla-2.jpg||thumb|left|200px|SPLA soldiers]]
The SPLA/M is largely [[Southern Sudan]]-based, non-[[Arab]]ic and secular, in contrast to the predominantly Muslim and Arab north. As a rebel group it was formed in [[1983]] by rebellious south Sudanese soldiers of the Sudanese Army based in [[Bor, Sudan|Bor]], Pochalla and Ayod (Bor Mutiny). These joined remnants of the [[Anyanya]] rebels of the [[First Sudanese Civil War]] based in Ethiopia. It was founded by Colonel Dr [[John Garang]], Captain [[Salva Kiir Mayardit]], Major William Nyuon Bany and Major Kerubino Kuanyin Bol. It fought against the governments of [[Gaafar Nimeiry]], [[Sadiq al-Mahdi]] and [[Omar Hasan Ahmad al-Bashir]] in what is now called the [[Second Sudanese Civil War]]. SPLA/M's declared aim was to establish a [[democratic]] Sudan with it as the leading party in control of the southern areas. The war has been largely described in [[religious war|religious]] and [[ethnic war|ethnic]] terms, and also as a struggle for control of the water and [[oil]] resources located in the southern and the western Sudan.
In the early 1991, the [[SPLA-Nasir]] faction led by Dr[[Riek Machar]] and Dr [[Lam Akol]] attempted to overthrow chairman Garang. The attempt failed but led to widespread fighting in the south and the formation of other rebel groups, such as [[Carabino Kuany Bol]]'s SPLA Bahr-al-Ghazal faction. These internal divisions hampered negotiations with the government. SPLA-Nasir, renamed itself SPLA-United and then transformed itself, with substantial personnel changes, into the [[South Sudan Independence Movement]]/Army. Several smaller factions signed a separate peace agreement with [[Khartoum]] in April 1997 and formed the [[United Democratic Salvation Front]] (UDSF).
The Sudanese government accused [[Uganda]] and [[Eritrea]] of supporting the SPLA/M. The group is alleged to have operated on the Ugandan side of the Sudanese border with Uganda at the southern limit of Sudan.
In [[2005]], a treaty between the SPLA/M and the Sudanese government led to the formal recognition of [[Southern Sudan]]ese autonomy. The political wing, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (''Al-Harakat Ash-Shaabia Le Tahreer As-Sudan'') is now a [[political party]]. It joined the government as part of [[Comprehensive Peace Agreement|the peace agreement]], gaining about one-third of government positions. On [[October 11]] [[2007]], the SPLM withdrew from the government, alleging violations of the peace agreement; this raised concerns about the future of the agreement.<ref>[http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/10/11/africa/AF-GEN-Sudan-South.php "Southern Sudan party pulls out of unity government"], Associated Press (''International Herald Tribune''), October 11, 2007.</ref>
==Structure of SPLA==
Top Leaders of the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) In Order of Rank;
#General Salva Kiir Mayardit, Commander-in-Chief of SPLA
#Minister of SPLA Affairs, ----------
(vacant position due to the death of Lt. Gen. Dominic Dim Deng 1950-2008: Historically the First Minister of SPLA Affairs (Defence) for the Government of Southern Sudan)
#Lt. Gen. Paulino Matip Nhial, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of SPLA
#Lt Gen. Oyai Deng Ajak,Chief of General Staff
The SPLA also has 5 deputy Chiefs of Staff, all at Maj.Gen. ranks.
During the [[Second Sudanese Civil War]] the SPLA provided training teams to the large groups of boys who fled to Ethipoia between 1983 and 1990. [[John Garang]] named these the "Red Army".{{Fact|date=June 2008}}
==US support==
In 1996 the US sent nearly $20 million worth of military equipment through [[Ethiopia]], [[Eritrea]] and [[Uganda]] to help the Sudanese opposition to overthrow [[Omar al-Bashir|Bashir]] ([[List of Presidents of Sudan|president of Sudan]]). US officials denied that the aid was destined for the SPLA, but there were reports elsewhere that elite US forces were working with the Sudanese rebel army.<ref>{{cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=John Garang | date= | publisher= | url =http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article550465.ece | work =[[The Times]] | pages = | accessdate = 2007-08-16 | language = }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=Sudan | date= | publisher= | url =http://nl.newsbank.com/cgi-bin/ngate/BG?ext_docid=0EADDE070E05842F&ext_hed=CARTER,%20OTHERS%20SAY%20US%20HAS%20FALTERED%20IN%20AFRICA&ext_theme=bg&pubcode=BG | work =[[Boston Globe]] | pages = | accessdate = 2007-08-16 | language = }}</ref>
==References==
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==External links==
* [http://www.splmtoday.com/ Official website] of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army
* [http://www.fas.org/irp/world/para/spla.htm Federation of American Scientists] page
* [http://www.state.gov/www/issues/relief/sudanproject.html State Department archive] on Sudan Project before January 2001
* [http://www.sudanupdate.org/WHOSWHO/SPLAM.HTM Description of SPLA/M] from pro-rebel bias.
*[http://www.crisisgroup.org/library/documents/africa/horn_of_africa/b030_garang_s_death_implications_for_peace_in_sudan.pdf Garang's Death: Implications for Peace in Sudan] by the [[International Crisis Group]], August 9, 2005 (PDF)
* [http://www.ryanspencerreed.com Sudan Photographic Exhibition] - Documentary photographer's images of Sudan's displaced
{{Sudanese political parties}}
[[Category:Guerrilla organizations]]
[[Category:Political parties established in 1983]]
[[Category:Political parties in Sudan]]
[[Category:Rebel militia groups]]
[[Category:Rebel groups in Uganda]]
[[Category:Second Sudanese Civil War]]
[[ca:Exèrcit d'Alliberament del Poble Sudanès]]
[[cs:Súdánská lidově osvobozenecká armáda]]
[[de:Sudanesische Volksbefreiungsarmee]]
[[es:Ejército de Liberación del Pueblo de Sudán]]
[[fr:Armée populaire de libération du Soudan]]
[[id:Tentara Pembebasan Rakyat Sudan]]
[[it:Esercito Sudanese di Liberazione Popolare]]
[[nl:SPLM]]
[[ja:スーダン人民解放軍]]
[[pl:Ludowa Armia Wyzwolenia Sudanu]]
[[pt:Exército Popular de Libertação do Sudão]]
[[ru:Народная армия освобождения Судана]]
[[sv:Sudanesiska folkets befrielsearmé]]
[[zh:苏丹人民解放军]]