28/08/2022
The Juba Massacre of 1992
By Dekuek
By Jan 1990, the SPLA was more of a conventional army than a ragtag rebel outfit. The total parade was between 100,000—400,000.
The smallest units were a platoon of 12 personnel and the biggest were divisions of 10,000—14,000.
It had 6 divisions with more in training. These were:
1: Koriom (Jarad) — 1984
2: Mour Mour — 1985
3: Kazuk — 1986
4: Zalzal — 1987
5: Intifadha — 1988
6: Intisar — 1989
Each division was divided into 3 reinforced brigades.
Militarily the SPLA had areas of overall command known as “Axis Command”. They were commanded by 5 permanent members of Permanent Military High Command (PMHC).
These were:
Axis 1 that was commanded by Cdr Garang and covered the areas east of the Nile including parts of Eastern, Central and Western Equatoria.
Axis 2 was commanded by Cdr Kerubino and covered Southern Blue Nile.
Axis 3 was commanded by Cdr William Nyuon covering eastern and western Upper Nile.
Axis 4 was commanded by Cdr Salva Kiir and covered southern Upper Nile.
Axis 5 was commanded by Cdr Arok Thon and covered Akobo, Waat, Ayod and Panjak and acted as reserve for Axis 3 and 4.
There were also 4 detached areas of independent military command known as “Zonal Commands” headed by alternate members of the PMHC.
1. Bentiu Zonal Command was under Cdr Riek Machar.
2. Bahr El Ghazal Zonal Command was under Cdr Daniel Awet Akot.
3. Nuba Mountains Zonal Command was under Cdr Abdelaziz Adam Al-Hilu.
4. Darfur Zonal Command was under Cdr Daud Bolad.
In Sept 1989 SPLA launched 3 massive military offensives modelled on Soviet doctrine.
a) Bright Star Campaign (BSC) led by Cdr Garang.
b) New Funj Campaign (NFC) led by Cdr Willian Nyuon.
c) Kon Anok Campaign (KAC) led by Cdr Salva Kiir.
By May 1992 The Bright Star Campaign forces had laid a crippling siege on Juba despite Cdrs Riek, Lam and Gordon Kong having stabbed SPLA in the back in Nasir in Aug 91.
On the 6th of June 1992, the SPLA launched an all out assault on Juba in “Operation Jungle Storm”.
By the morning of the 7th of June, coming in from the south, they captured Giada (Sudanese army HQs), Artillery Base of Btn 116, and occupied Jebel, amid heavy fighting.
However, the SPLA was forced to withdraw when the SPLA Engineering Corp failed to secure the bridge, and some lead elements failed to capture the airport and secured crossings for reinforcements.
Following the attack the Sudanese government arrested over 80 Southern Sudanese soldiers, policemen, prison guards and paramilitary guards.
They include, from Sudan Armed Forces (SAF), MAJ Joseph Ladu, MAJ Andrew and over 60 soldiers of other ranks;
COL David Kenyi, LTCOL Lado Peter and CPT Arkangelo Yugu who were police officers.
MAJ Pitia Kenyi, CPT Kamillo Koma CPT Mohamed Khamis and 1st LT Mark Taban who were prison service officers.
The Sudanese army started executing the Southern Sudanese soldiers, prisoners of war and other civilians suspected of collaborating with SPLA on 23rd of June.
One month later on the 7th of July, SPLA again attacked Juba entering Lologo, and Kator before withdrawing 10 days later amidst heavy fighting towards Jebel Rejaf.
Afterwards SAF responded by conducting house to house searches and killed over 300 South Sudanese civilians.
Thousands of civilians fled the suburbs to escape the fighting and SAF reprisals. On the 11th of July SAF ordered evacuation of Lologo and Kator.
On the 12th Lologo, Kator, and other areas were Southerners lived were burnt leaving nearly 100,000 civilians squatting without shelter in and around the old commercial centre of Juba.
On the 16th of July, 40 SAF Southern Sudanese soldiers were executed by SAF.
In the following days and months over 50 other prominent Southerners and hundreds of unnamed Southerners were killed. I have attached photos of those I could found online.
Here are some of the victims.
(I’m sorry if this causes distress to various family members).
William Lado
Steven Dogale
Joseph Taban
Santo Abdallah
Patrisio Ladu
Evelino Modi
Amosa Laku
Benansio Juma Laku
Taban Mark
Lazarus Mani
Arkangelo Philmon
Elizai Philip
Stephen Laduku
Arkangelo Ladu
Raphael Laku
Edward Dere
Daniel Yona
Lino Kamilo
Wilson Sometimes
Anania Luba
Babikir Tombe
Pitia Ladu
Paul Pitia
Mustafa Gadir
Michael Lobojo
Joseph Lawrence
Kennedy Jambiri
Kamilo Silas
Anton Wani
Philip Modi
Pitia Kenyi Ladu
