| Country: | Sudan |
| Details of Formation: | The SPLM/A-Nasir is a splinter faction of the SPLA. In 1991, Riek Machar led the Nasir faction out of the SPLA, accusing John Garang, the leader of the SPLA, of waging a dictatorial reign of terror in the group. The SPLM/A-Nasir was, in contrast to the SPLA, dominated by the Nuer ethnic group. In December 1991, the government in Khartoum announced that it was in contact with SPLM/A-Nasir and that it supported the group against the SPLA by John Garang. |
| Details of Termination: | On March 27, 1993, prominent individuals joined the group and it was renamed SPLM/A-United (Human Rights Watch). These prominent individuals joining the SPLM/A-Nasir to form the SPLM/A-United included Kerubino Kwanyin Bol and his group of ex-political detainees as well as William Nyuoun Bany and his splinter group SPLM/A Forces of Unity an Democracy. For further details, cf. separate entry for the SPLM/A-United in the PGMD. |
| Purpose: | The reason why the Khartoum government supported the SPLM/A-Nasir was the government’s policy of ethnic divide and conquer (Human Rights Watch). The SPLM/A-Nasir, by fighting other rebel groups, weakened Khartoum’s secessionist antagonists. |
| Organisation: | The leader of the SPLM/A-Nasir was Riek Machar. Other commanders included Teny Dhurgon (Dok Nuer), Gordon Kong Chuol (Eastern Jikany Nuer), and Lam Akol(Shilluk). They received clandestine military supplies and cooperated with the Khartoum government (Human Rights Watch). The clandestine cooperation included secret aircraft shipment of ammunition, flight clearance for relief planes to their areas, but not to other conflict-affected areas, or Riek Machar receiving government officials. |
| Weapons and Training: | The SPLM/A-Nasir received ammunition from the government, delivered by aircraft. |
| Size: | -- |
| Reason for Membership: | -- |
| Treatment of Civilians: | A news source reports that SPLM/A-Nasir presence in the Dinka heartland of Bor and Kongor forced 100,000 people to flee. |
| Other Information: | The SPLM/A-Nasir was named after Nasir town, where the failed coup to oust Garang from the SPLA was staged in August 1991. Riek Machar was Nuer, while John Garang was Dinka. Although the SPLM/A-Nasir had the stated goal of independence for the south (in contrast to John Garang’s SPLA which sought a united, socialist South) it was supported by the Khartoum government. Through the split from the SPLA, Riek Machar became a key player with regards to the oilfields in his region. (Human Rights Watch) |
| References: |
Human Rights Watch. 2003. “Sudan, Oil and Human Rights.” ISBN: 1564322912 Information was taken from news sources listed in the PGMD |