South Sudan Federal Democratic Party | |
War: | the Ethnic violence in South Sudan |
Active: | 2015 |
Leaders: | Major General Anthony Ongwaja, Mario Bertino |
Clans: | Lotuko |
Area: | Torit |
Opponents: | Government of South Sudan |
Battles: | Idolu, Longiro,Oguruny |
The South Sudan Federal Democratic Party (SSFDP), is a South Sudanese militant group fighting against the government around Torit in Eastern Equatoria State. This rebel group is different from but related to the larger similarly named "Federal Democratic Party/South Sudan Armed Forces" led by Peter Gadet, Gabriel Chang and Gathoth Gatkuoth.[1]
The SSFDP surfaced at the beginning of December 2015, when a group of defectors from the SPLA seized control of a rural police post in Idolu near Torit.[2] Soon thereafter they took the town of Longiro.[3] A battle in Oguruny left that town badly damaged.[4]
The SSFDP is led by Anthony Ongwaja, who claims to have defected from the SPLA with the rank of Major General[2] with the aim of establishing federal democracy in South Sudan. Members are reportedly predominantly Lotuko people.[5]