General Puljang “effectively” under house arrest in Juba – new report

JUBA – Former commander of South Sudan People’s Defense Force (SSPDF) Special Division unit General Mathew Puljang is effectively under house arrest in Juba following a conspiracy against him, a report released on Thursday by the Small Arms Survey has said.

General Puljang was recalled to Juba earlier this year following fighting between his forces and those loyal to Unity state Governor Joseph Nguen Manytuil in Mayom. The fighting which had also took sectional lines within Bul of the Nuer section also involved some community leaders supporting each of the two rival leaders who both hail from Mayom county.

Since his recall to Juba, General Puljang’s forces have been placed under the administration of SSPDF’s Fourth Infantry Division in Bentiu and  circumstances under which he is detained remain matters of speculations.

Most of his forces have rejected the placement under the SSPDF command and have remained outside the power base of Manytuil in Unity state.

The Small Arms Survey report which is found here, said the plan to detain General Puljang emanated from attempts by Manytuil and Presidential Affairs Advisor on Security Tutkew Gatluak to consolidate power prior to Nguen’s re-appointment as governor of Unity state in June this year.

“In January 2020, five months prior to his appointment as governor, Nguen attempted to consolidate his power in the state by ousting Matthew Puljang, the then SSPDF commander of the Special Operations force of Division 4 – which was based in Mayom county and comprised almost entirely Bul Nuer,” the report said in part.

The report said Manytuil was joined in the effort to control General Puljang by Tutkew but said the attempt was “thwarted by Puljang and led to fighting in Mayom. In response, Kiir recalled Puljang and other leading Division 4 commanders in Mayom to Juba.”

It further said Puljang has since remained in Juba under house arrest as his forces has been brought under the control of the SSPDF in Unity state as his health conditions get worse.

“Puljang is now effectively under house arrest in Juba. Though he would like to reclaim his position, he is relatively weak politically, and medical conditions force him to undergo regular treatment in Uganda,” the report said.

The report pointed out however that “following Puljang’s removal, his former forces, angry and feeling abandoned by Juba, have launched raids into Warrap.”

“Despite the political morass and power vacuum caused by Puljang’s removal, Nguen and Tutkew Gatluak have insisted that Joseph Manyuat, Puljang’s deputy, not take his place as they fear this would recreate another independent power base outside of Nguen’s control.

“However, at present, no one else can effectively command the Bul Nuer forces. Following Puljang’s dismissal, Nguen traveled to Mayom to establish his authority over Puljang’s forces, but he was met with a great deal of hostility from civilians and soldiers in Mayom town.

“He now faces the challenge of asserting control over Puljang’s forces. If he succeeds, there is little to stop Nguen from having effective command of all of Unity state.”