George Athor Deng (1962 – 19 December 2011) was the Sudan People's Liberation Army lieutenant general and a SPLA dissident who led the South Sudan Democratic Movement and its military wing, the South Sudan Defence Army. He was also an independent candidate for the leadership of Jonglei prior to the independence of South Sudan.
George Athor | |
|---|---|
 George Athor in 2010 | |
| Born | c..1962 |
| Died | 19 December 2011 (aged 48–49) Khartoum, Sudan |
| Cause of death | Gunshot wounds |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | Sudan People's Liberation Movement (1983–2010) South Sudan Democratic Movement (2010–2011) |
| Service | Sudan People's Liberation Army (1983–2010) South Sudan Defence Army (2010–2011) |
| Years of service | 1983–2011 |
| Rank | Lieutenant general |
| Battles / wars | Second Sudanese Civil War Disarmament of the Lou Nuer George Athor's rebellion |
Athor joined the SPLA in 1983 and was appointed to the rank of major general after the SPLA formalised their rank structures after 2005. Athor became Upper Nile (1st Division), then Jonglei division commander (Jonglei being 8th Division).[1] He was later promoted to lieutenant general and made deputy chief of staff for political and moral orientation.
Numerous rumors accused him of being involved into weapons smuggling, traffic of influence and misappropriation of funds both in Jonglei and Upper Nile. He was also deeply involved in the White Army bloody disarmament in 2006.[2] After the April 2010 elections, after suspicions of fraud in the process, Athor orchestrated a series of attacks on SPLA bases. Further attacks lead to great insecurity in the north-western portion of Jonglei state. Although Athor reportedly agreed to a ceasefire before the January 2011 referendum, in February 2011, BBC reported the killing of 200 civilians by Athor's men.[3]
On 20 December 2011, it was reported by the BBC that Athor had been killed trying to enter South Sudan in an attempt to gain more troops.[4] South Sudan's Vice-President Riak Machar Teny said that he was killed on 19 December in a clash with border guards. It was confirmed by Vice President Riek Machar that Athor was killed by the Sudan People's Liberation Army during a clash between Athorand his men and the military at Morobo County, Central Equatoria.[5]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 December 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ Marc-Andre Lagrange, Insurgencies in South Sudan: A Mandatory Path to Build a Nation?, 11 December 2010.
- ^ BBC - South Sudan Jonglei attack by Athor rebels 'killed 200', 2011.
- ^ BBC (20 December 2011). "South Sudan rebel George Athor 'killed'". BBC Online. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
- ^ "Army kills rebel chief in South Sudan". France 24. 20 December 2011. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
- Small Arms Survey - HSBA Baseline Assessment, Armed Groups: Athor Archived 16 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
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