Kuol Mangar:’A/cdr Daniel Chol Riak was killed by his Deputy David Gatluak Damai with orders from Dr.Riek.’

When SPLM/A split in 1991, many people on both sides of the political side died just because they were to faction-affiliated tribes or didnt support the idea. In Nasir and Leer, many Dinka and Nuer officers who supported SPLM/A led by Dr. John Garang de Mabior were arrested. Many of these officers were later killed but those who made it out can still remember the horrors and the torturing that they went through. Kuol Mangar was one of the bodyguards to Alternate commander Daniel Chol Riak. Chol was transferred to Pariang and later to Leer in 1987 with the request of Dr. Riek Machar as the zone commander. Kuol who is educated and soldier from Koriom battalion traveled to Leer with other five to help protect A/Commander Daniel Chol Riak. When the split happened, chol never switched his allegiance to Dr.Riek according to Kuol. He was immediately demoted, disarmed, arrested and was allegedly killed by Deputy David Gatluak Damai. Kuol went to prison with Weli the son of alternate commander Chol for three years. Luckily he was later released but Weli was killed. For a first time, Kuol narrated what happened on SBS Dinka Radio.

A/cdr Daniel Chol Riak Source: Panthum Chol Riak

The life of later alternate Commander Chol Riak

Daniel Chol Riak Chol was born 1/1/1940 in Koch-Kapat to Ajok Akuei Yac. Chol completed Malek others schools in Juba. He later joined police where he worked in areas like Renk, Maban, Dajo, Wadisa, Jeko, Elnasir and Malakal. 1972 Daniel Was accepted in the police college In Khartoum for police college certificate, where he graduated as a second lieutenant and he was immediately transferred again to work in Yirol, Toni, wau, Bor, Equatoria and Aweil. When Nemeri divided South Sudan in old three regions (kokoro), Shol went to Bor in 1983 Choldit but members of his family went to the village in Kapat. When the war started between the North and South, Chol travelled to Ethiopia where he joined the SPLA. He was graduated as military officer with Volcano battalion. He was later deployed to Pariang in 1987 and move to Leer in 1989. Chol Riak was became the vicim of the 1991 split between the SPLM political factions. The witness and the living bodyguard accused both Dr. Riek Machar and then Captain David Gatluak Damai for the death of Chol Riak on 13/11/1991 between Koch and Kuetnyang in present Leer area. In 1991, the rampant targeting killings was alleged to be the norm in both political factions but SBS Dinka couldnt reach any eye witness to what happened on SPLM-Torit side. In upper Nile, Dinka officers were killed in Nasir and Leer. In 2014, Dr. Riek Machar rejected the accusation labeled at him about the death of Hakim Aluong Kang in Nasir. In the story of Leer, Kuol Mangar was a surviving member of Chol Riak cycle.

I and Weli Chol Riak (son) were the immediate guards to alternate commander Chol Riak. The actual split, Chol id notice to change in behavior and how a junior caption who deputised him couldnt follow his orders anymore. In various occasions, we were ordered to be disarmed by Captain David Gatluak Damai from the orders from Dr. Riek but we stood our grounds. One day, I and Weli decide to leave Commander Chol inside the compound and then went to the football field, they notice the error and that is how Chol Riak was caught. We were later round up by a platoon and taken into underground prison but commander Chol rRiak was transferred to another location. I only became aware of his death after I saw captain David Gatluak Damai wearing a Cols Cuban made military uniform. I later approached one of the soldiers known as John Adok Koor who confirmed to me that they have killed Alternate Commander Chol Riak. Before Chol, Capt Bior Pageer Alak was the first officer to be killed on 11/11/1991 and many other people followed.