South Sudan national army kills leader of “7th October Movement”

By Deng Machol 

Juba - South Sudan national army has reported that businessman and philanthropist, turned rebel leader, Captain Kerbono Wol, has been killed in action in Eastern Lakes State, Bahr El Ghazel region.

Kerbino’s death comes just one week after he announced the formation of the 7th October rebel movement on June 5, named after the day, he allegedly led a riot in jail in 2018.

Wol had originally been detained in April 2018 and held at the Blue House without being charged. After the disturbance that October he was charged with violating sections 67, 72, 79 and 47 of the South Sudan penal code of 2008, but later was released in a presidential pardon in January 2020.

South Sudan People Defense Force (SSPDF) spokesperson, Maj Gen Lul Ruai said that Kerbino was hit by soldiers on Sunday during an operation in Lakes state. 

Maj Gen Lul says the offensive on Kerbino’s positions began last Thursday at Ayen Mayar village in the Amoukping area of Rumbek East county. The army spokesperson says three of his fighters and a local chief identified as Monydiar Maker Mangar, who hosted Kerboino at his home, were also killed.

“The 4 days offensive operations resulted in the neutralization of the threat, which was the killing of Wol Agok, along with two others at Ayen Mayar Villiage in Amukpiny in Rumbek East,” Lul told the Pan African Visions on phone.

However, Lazaro Akoon, brother to Kerbino

announced the demise of his brother, says he passed on this morning (Monday) during a military confrontation in his hideout.

"He was one of us and to us his body shall return. We appeal to the government as a family to have his body given to us for burial," Akoon wrote it on his Facebook timeline.

Kerbino Wol earlier said his new group, the October 7th Movement, which he named after the day he rioted in detention, will fight the government of South Sudan to bring democratic change in the world youngest nation.

Army spokesperson Lul said that Kerbino was in the process to launch attacks against the government forces.

Wol Deng Atak, exiled politician described Kerubino Wol as a young man with promising future. 

"His death is a great loss to the nation," Deng told the Pan African Visions. "His decision to fight against the government resulted from frustration of lack of justice to him as a person and for his country."

Deng said the Juba government should have negotiated with him and bring him back. 

The observers say Kbino Wol is killed but the idea of justice, reform and peaceful South Sudan remain in the hearts of many South Sudanese. 

Army Spokesperson says Kerbino Will wasn't interested for negotiation because he was in potentiality of rebellion nature.

According to Kerbino Wol, membership of his new group is made of young South Sudanese yearning for change.

South Sudan has emerged from a five - year conflict, but is still struggling to implement the 2018 peace deal.