‘It was the Sudanese army that attacked us in Bor’:16 May’s story explained

(Audio in Dinka) Alfred Manyang Agok narrates the story of what triggered the long African war in 1983. This was the first interview with Alfred Manyang Agook was recorded by SBS Dinka on 16 May 2015. 16 May was the day Sudanese army attacked one of its barracks after soldiers refused to be transferred to other parts of the country. Malualchat is a suburb of Bor town, and home to the Sudanese military unite of 105 battalions from 1973 to 1983. General Alfred Manyang Agok Aliet was a junior officer and one of the three who were relieved after they refused to honour the call to transfer or deployment.

General Alfred Manyang Agook Source: Supplied

It was a general plan to move all South Sudanese soldiers to the northern towns. In this interview, Manyang explained the reasons why they refused to deploy to Northern cities. The negotiation between the soldiers, senior officers at Malualchat, Bor and the Sudanese generals in Juba lasted a few months but failed. James Loro and many other officers from Khartoum needed the unit to be disarmed and but played well to the hand of South Sudanese politicians. These military officers weren't happy with Khartoum. Among the clandestine group were the Karbino Kuanyin Bol, Dr John Garang de Mabior, William Nyuon, Salva Kiir, had an idea of the potential revolt.

 

1983 was the 11th year of Addis Ababa peace agreement, and the High Executive Council that ruled South Sudan have had some rocky relationships with North Sudan. President of Sudan Gaafar Nimeiry was also looking for better ways to abrogate the Addis Ababa Peace Agreement. Years before 1983, Vincent Kuany rebelled and went back to the bush to fight the Sudanese army. The three officers soldiers who protested include Alfred Manyang and Garang Ngang Abui.