New Rebel Group in South Sudan Gives Demands in Ending Hostilities

Highlights

• Towards the end of October, 2015, a new rebel group in South Sudan announced its presence in the war-torn country to fight the government.
• Tiger Faction New Forces (TFNF) decries South Sudan presidential establishment of more states in the country.
• On 1^st November 2015, TFNF released a statement demanding the dissolution of the states as a pre-cursor to any negotiations with the government.

Summary and Forecast

A new rebel group in South Sudan, the Tiger Faction New Forces (TFNF) announced in a statement on Friday 30^th October that they decided to take up arms to fight the government of President Salva Kiir until he rubbishes the new states he formed in the country.

In the midst of fighting with the main opposition in the country despite signing of a peace agreement with the opposition faction (SPLM-IO) led by the former vice-president, Riek Machar President Salva Kiir established an order expanding the 10 currently constitutionally recognized states to 28 states.

TFNF commander in chief and chairman General Yoanes Okij vowed to fight the government in Juba until President Kiir revoke the his presidential decree.

The decree would give away the land of ethnic Shilluk tribe in Upper Nile state to members of a section of ethnic Dinka, Kiir’s tribe.

TFNF is predominantly composed of ethnic Shilluk members.

The new powerful entry by yet another rebel group in South Sudan threatens the ongoing efforts to implement the security arrangements specially in the Upper Nile State that has experienced most tribal fighting.

Sudan People’s Liberation Movement- in- Opposition (SPLM-IO) remains the biggest rebel group in South Sudan. Its strength was doubled up by the decision of a rebel group commanded by Major General Johnson Olony to merge with the SPLM-IO opting for a national agenda instead of tribal claims.