Origins The SSPA was founded by Brig. Gen. Agany Abdel Bagi Ayii Akol in
Northern Bahr el Ghazal sometime between early 2016 and April 2017. From its first appearance, the SSPA possessed equipment that was unusually sophisticated for a new rebel group, including uniforms,
technicals,
PK machine guns,
RPGs, and
Kalashnikov rifles. Observers noted that this might hint at a powerful patron supporting the group. Accordingly, there has been much speculation about possible links between the SSPA and various South Sudanese strongmen. One news website argued that the militia could be a
front organization of
Paul Malong Awan, the former SPLA Chief of General Staff, as the SSPA's emergence coincided with the arrival of Malong's
private army Mathiang Anyoor in
Aweil State. On the other side, the militia shares its name with the South Sudan Patriotic Movement (SSPM) of opposition politician Costello Garang Ring. Though it was initially denied that Garang had any connections with the SSPA, the militia's spokesman Deng Mareng Deng eventually revealed Garang as the SSPA's political leader.
Operations The SSPA's initial base reportedly was Meram in
Aweil East State, from where it started to attack positions of the SPLA in the nearby Rumaker in late April 2017. The SSPA also claimed to have captured large amounts of weaponry and other equipment in course of the fighting at the two towns. In September, the SSPA claimed to have initiated talks with other rebel factions to coordinate their military actions. Agany Abdel Bagi Ayii Akol stated that the insurgents would form an alliance which would include the SSPA, alongside forces loyal to
Riek Machar,
Lam Akol, Thomas Cirillo, Joseph Bangasi Bakosoro, and
John Uliny. By October 2017, the SSPA was considered to be one of the greatest threats to the South Sudanese government, having made "significant military gains" at this point. Costello responded by stating that he fully supported the peace process, and Agany had "no authority" to replace him anyway. The dispute continued until 4 September, when another SSPA commander announced that Agany and Costello had reconciled, with the latter having agreed to "resolve some administrative issues". It was later clarified that the disagreements between the two would be settled by a mediation committee formed by SSPM and tribal leaders. == Organization ==