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Peter Gatdet


Peter Gatdet Yak (or Gadet) is a former Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) general who is now the leader of the South Sudan Liberation Army (SSLA), a rebel movement in South Sudan. He was born between 1957 and 1959 in Mayom County, South Sudan.

General Gadet was a member of the South Sudan Defence Forces (SSDF) during the Second Sudanese Civil War. He joined the SPLA after the Juba Declaration of 8 January 2006, but said that he was marginalized and that the army was dominated by tribal nepotism. In April 2011 Gadet emerged as leader of the South Sudan Liberation Army (SSLA), a new militia demanding a more broadly-based government. In Unity State, he began an assault on the SPLA, leaving at least 45 people dead. According to the military, 20 of the victims were southern army soldiers.

In August 2011, SSLA's spokesperson has said that the movement has declared a ceasefire with the government. Gadet integrated his forces into the army and became the 8th Division Commander.

Amidst the South Sudanese Civil War, he mutinied again and his mainly Nuer militia claimed control of Bor, South Sudan. Riek Machar claims Gadet has been installed as military governor of Jonglei. In July 2014, the European Union imposed sanctions on Gadet accusing him of leading an attack of the town of Bentiu, in which about 400 people were killed in the 2014 Bentiu massacre.

On 11 August 2015, Gabriel Tang, Gathoth Gatkuoth, the former SPLM-IO logistics chief, and Peter Gadet, announced that they had split from Riek Machar, believing him to be "seeking power for himself". They rejected ongoing peace talks and announced that they would now combat Riek Machar's forces in addition to government forces, saying, "They (Riek Machar and President Salva Kiir) are symbols of hate, division and failed leadership, both leaders were responsible for starting the crisis." Gathoth Gatkuoth states he wishes for a President who is neither Dinka nor Nuer. Gatkuoth states that he intends to register his group as a political group called the "Federal Democractic Party". Peter Gadet became Chairman of the Military Command Council of FDP/South Sudan Armed Forces.


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