403:
regardless of what he was offered by the
Sudanese governments. Especially during the period after the Addis Ababa Agreement where he was under self-imposed exile due to his refusal to participate in the Southern Sudanese autonomous government under Nimeiri which he saw as unjust and a sell-out. He encouraged the idea of a continued struggle while many other Southern leaders and politicians embraced the peace and saw the military struggle as over. His stance gave hope to many Southerners who were becoming increasingly disillusioned by the Addis Ababa Agreement and the government. During this time was he expelled from many African countries by their government's such as Zaire and Uganda, due to their unwillingness to be seen as nations that are hosting such a high-profile rebel against the Khartoum government. Muortat was finally granted asylum by the UK after these expulsions.
231:. After the collapse of the SSPG due to internal political wrangling, the second Anyanya government, the Nile Provisional Government (NPG) was formed. Gordon Muortat Mayen was elected unanimously as president, with his army fighting a fully fledged war against the north, advocating for the complete independence of the south. During this time, Southern Sudan was renamed the Nile Republic with its citizens being referred to as Nileans. The name Southern Sudan was rejected by Muortat and his government due to the name being just a reference to a geographic zone which has little relevance to the people of the Southern Sudan. It is also a name which was used by colonial powers to inadequately describe the Nilotic and Nilo-Hamitic tribes living on the upper region of the river Nile, first by the Egyptians, and later by the British. Dr.
247:
the coup attempt, however Gordon
Muortat declined. In a 1999 interview, Muortat, talking on the dissolution of the NPG stated, "I went to the bush in order to fight for the liberation of the South Sudan. And since Lagu had managed to secure arms for the liberation of our people, I did not see any reason to continue with a parallel struggle. So I decided to stand down. Because it is my belief that South Sudan cannot be liberated from the Arabs unless all of the Africans in the South unite and fight as one people, for one goal, the independence of South Sudan". He encouraged all loyal forces to join Lagu and continue the fight against the Arab dominated government in the North. While Muortat was leader of the Southern movement, he declined offers of ceasefire with Khartoum as he was not willing to accept the terms
173:(SF), a political party that would represent the rights of the people of southern Sudan. He headed the Southern Front delegation in the Round Table Conference between the north and south in 1965 and is remembered for demanding that the south be given the right to self-determination. He held this view due to the fact that southern Sudanese were not involved in the politics which led to the independence of Sudan from the colonial power in 1956. He therefore argued that southern Sudanese must be given the right to determine their political future in a referendum, to be carried out in the south which should be supervised and monitored internationally. This view was also shared by other members of the Southern Front, namely Clement Mboro,
280:
exile, formed the
Anyanya Patriotic Front, a liberation movement with the same aims as SSPG, NPG and the first Anyanya; to liberate the South as a separate country from the North. Muortat was elected as the President of the movement, other notable high-profile southern politicians that formed the APF were Elia Duang Arop; the movement's Secretary General and former minister in the NPG, Francis Mayar Akoon, Agolong Chol and many others who had disapproved of the Addis Ababa Agreement. The Ethiopian government agreed to station the mutineers, which formed the military wing of the APF, in a camp called Bilpam, which later became the first full-fledged
271:. The Arabs must know that what they are now committing in Addis Ababa will never help in defeating the Southern Sudan. However, despite this, the Addis Ababa peace agreement was signed in 1972. Gordon Muortat did not agree with the contents and terms of the agreement, calling it a sell out and fraudulent. He believed that the Southern people were not given the chance to self-determination and a return to civil war will be needed in order for South Sudanese to achieve their true unalienable rights. He continued the protest against the agreement and remained in exile moving to the UK.
346:
386:, then governor of Lakes State. In his address to the mourning citizens of the South Sudanese town of Rumbek, the President of the Republic of South Sudan, Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit, reminded the people of the selfless leader, who spent all his life struggling for the cause of the people of South Sudan. "It is now up to us, the present generation to transform Hon. Gordon's dreams into a reality, after achieving the
31:
305:
entertain any ambiguous directives from their hosts and get dragged into the
Communist demagoguery. As a result, the Ethiopian government dismissed them in refusing to provide financial and logistical support. The lack of financial and logistical support, as it was not forthcoming from anywhere, eventually led to their dissolution. Gordon Muortat however, had opened up a line requesting arms from Col.
263:
that talks ought to be held between North and
Southern true Representatives i.e. those mandated and not opportunists acting on complicity with the Arabs and their agents. Talks ought to take place without any pre-condition like the Arabs imposition of Local Autonomy. The talks ought to take place under the auspices of impartial organisations like the
212:
143:
246:
who formed the
Southern Sudan Liberation Movement (SSLM) in January 1971 after staging a successful coup d'état against Muortat and his rebel government. At the time, Andrew Makur Thou, commander of the Anyanya forces under the NPG was willing to continue to fight under Muortat's leadership and quell
193:
rulers were not interested in the peaceful resolution of the 'South Sudan
Question'. Thus in August 1965 at the meeting of the Southern Front executive committee, he proposed that the party should be dissolved and that the entire committee should move into exile with the objective of merging with the
402:
Muortat is widely praised by South
Sudanese from all tribes due to his impartialness, his strong stance against tribalism and his vision of seeing Southerners united as equals. He is also greatly respected for his constant and consistent stance against the Khartoum regimes and his lack of compromise
361:
achievements especially that the road to the realisation of the
Southerner's freedom was within sight. Gordon Muortat was given a state funeral and was laid to rest at Rumbek Freedom Square, attended by thousands of citizens who had come to pay their last respects to a man who was remembered by many
262:
In 1971, Gordon
Muortat was elected president of the African National Front, which was one of the southern factions that were against the Addis Ababa negotiations and did not actively participate in them, however they sent a clear message to negotiators on how proceedings could move. This included;
328:
Gordon Muortat's leadership and resolve were the driving force that continued armed liberation revival in Southern Sudan. Also inspiring many other South Sudanese politicians and students' organizations involved in the liberation struggle, notably the SOSSA and NAM. Despite his lengthy period of
279:
During the period of peace after the 1972 agreement, the former Ayna-nya rebels were absorbed into the Sudanese army, however many were discontented, and some chose to return to the bush in 1975 and headed to Ethiopia. In 1975, Gordon Muortat along with the other Southern Sudanese politicians in
304:
because they deviated from the original ideals of the APF. The new movement, the APF was confronted with many difficulties, launched as a genuine separatist movement to liberate the South Sudan and establish an independent African State, Muortat and the politicians heading it were not ready to
336:
In 1994 Gordon Muortat was appointed as Personal Advisor to the SPLM/SPLA Chairman Dr. John Garang de Mabior and a member of the National Liberation Council. He participated in the Machakos peace talks in Kenya in 2004 with the government of Sudan. At the talks he insistently warned the SPLM
357:. In his inaugural speech to the SSLA he reiterated his concerns about the length of the CPA and on tribalism. On 12 April 2008, Muortat died from natural causes while on a recess from parliament-having achieved so much in his life. He was very proud of the
406:
He is survived by his wife Sarah Piath Ahoc, 10 children and 27 grandchildren and one great grandchild. In his memory, the Gordon Muortat Mayen Foundation has been set up, which seeks to help the people of South Sudan through various schemes and projects.
320:
declared all Sudan an Islamic state under Shari'a law, including the non-Islamic majority southern region, forcing southerners once again to take to the bush for the second struggle for the liberation of the Sudan, this time under Late Dr.
668:
133:
from 1942 to 1945. In 1951 he was among the first southern Sudanese to graduate from Sudan Police College and was commissioned as a police inspector where he rose through the ranks to become Chief Inspector of Police.
150:
In 1957, Muortat was denied a transfer to southern Sudan, so he resigned his position and joined the Sudan Civil Administration. He was appointed assistant district commissioner and served throughout
309:’s Libya. Due to Libya's fractured relations with the Khartoum government, they were willing to assist. The arms were pledged to the movement in Southern Sudan and Muortat gave his blessing for the
316:
As Muortat had predicted the Addis-Ababa agreement did not live long. Resource infringements and marginalisation of the South by the North led to increased unrest in the South. In 1983 President
300:, knowing that the movement was the continuation of the first Anya-nya one movement, However, Muortat denounced the splinter group that went on to fight with the SPLA that also became known as
727:
284:
battalion in 1984. Gordon Muortat and his group went on to assist organising the few thousand strong, majority Nuer troops in Bilpam, amongst the troops were the Late Vincent Kuany Latjor,
390:
where the right to Self Determination for the people of South Sudan is enshrined," stated the President. President Kiir declared 3 days of state mourning and all the flags in
251:
was offering; local autonomy for the region of Southern Sudan. He was only willing to enter peace talks if the succession of Southern Sudan was on the agenda. Shortly after
517:
101:
revolutionary and politician and advocate for Southern Sudan's independence. He was the President of the Nile Provisional Government (NPG) which led the
329:
exile in Europe, Gordon Muortat remained an influential figure in South Sudanese politics. As a revered figure, his residence in London served as the
374:; former Vice President of the Republic of Sudan and President of the defunct High Executive Council for Southern Sudan, Isaiah Kulang Mabor, Madam
227:
to liberate the territories of Southern Sudan in 1967 and was appointed foreign minister in the Southern Sudan Provisional Government (SSPG) under
242:
The NPG was dissolved in 1970, after the failure to restore Israeli arms shipments to their forces. The weapons were instead being diverted to
151:
717:
697:
737:
687:
604:
310:
281:
236:
702:
255:
had taken over power as the leader of the movement, the SSLM under Lagu, entered peace negotiations with Khartoum to form the
387:
644:
256:
732:
155:
129:. Muortat was educated at Akot elementary from 1936 to 1942. He then attended Loka Nugent Junior Secondary School in
353:
From 2006 and onwards, Muortat became an MP in the South Sudan Legislative Council representing his constituency in
375:
162:, Muortat was appointed to be Minister of Works and Mineral Resources in his cabinet. However, when Prime Minister
159:
722:
562:
224:
106:
333:
for many South Sudanese political leaders of various political stripes and viewpoints in the 1980s and 1990s.
215:
President of NPG Gordon Muortat at the declaration and raising of the flag of the Nile State (Republic), 1969
616:
577:
170:
163:
110:
692:
232:
186:
712:
707:
53:
367:
239:, was among the batches of Muortat's soldiers sent to Israel for military training under the NPG.
591:
379:
297:
130:
383:
306:
182:
345:
317:
248:
681:
532:
228:
126:
30:
391:
363:
322:
252:
243:
174:
121:
Gordon Muortat Mayen was born in 1922 at Karagok village 10 miles South East of
57:
113:(SF) and Foreign Minister in the Southern Sudan Provisional Government (SSPG).
658:
Kuyok, Kuyok Abol (2015). South Sudan: The Notable Firsts. London: AuthorHouse
371:
301:
285:
337:
delegates to learn from the experience of the Addis Ababa Agreement in 1972.
289:
142:
98:
463:
Anders Breidlid; Avelino Androga Said; Astrid Kristine Breidlid (2010).
158:
provinces. In 1965, under the transitional government of Prime Minister
426:
Robert S. Kramer; Richard A. Lobban Jr.; Carolyn Fluehr-Lobban (2013).
313:, who later took up arms against Khartoum, to make good on this offer.
220:
195:
102:
211:
358:
354:
122:
70:
49:
344:
210:
190:
141:
74:
450:
South Sudan: The Case for Independence and Learning from Mistakes
362:
as a freedom fighter and defender of the rights of the people of
292:. Later on the Late Samuel Gai Tut also joined the rebellion. A
178:
293:
268:
296:
reporter mistakenly labelled the Anya-nya Patriotic Front as
563:"Message, tribute and biography of Late Hon. Gordon Muortat"
669:"Veteran politician Gordon Muortat, laid to rest in Rumbek"
443:
441:
439:
437:
264:
169:
In 1964, Gordon Muortat became one of the founders of the
125:. His father was a local chief of Patiop Clan of the Agar
654:
652:
189:
in July 1965 convinced Gordon Muortat that the northern
421:
419:
185:
and all over the south that were carried out by the
80:
64:
42:
37:
21:
366:. Notable speakers at the occasion were President
496:
494:
349:President Kiir at funeral of Hon. Gordon Muortat
259:which accepted regional autonomy for the South.
177:and Hilary Paul Logali. The great massacres of
109:. Muortat also served as Vice-President of the
728:Sudan People's Liberation Movement politicians
378:, Mr. Andrew Makur Thou, Mr. Bona Malual, Mr.
8:
478:
476:
474:
592:"University of San Diego article on Sudan"
29:
18:
617:"South Agency, Tribute to Vincent Kuany"
578:"South Agency, Tribute to Vincent Kuany"
533:"Sudan Tribune Gordon Muortat Memorial"
415:
166:came to office, Muortat was dismissed.
68:April 12, 2008 (aged 85–86)
16:South Sudanese politician (1922–2008)
7:
428:Historical Dictionary of the Sudan
14:
531:Mayom, Manyang (21 August 2009).
548:A Concise History of South Sudan
465:A Concise History of South Sudan
146:Gordon Muortat in police uniform
84:Politician & Freedom Fighter
605:Sudan People's Liberation Army
223:1 insurgency, fighting in the
198:political and military wings.
1:
632:Sudan's Painful Road To Peace
505:. Cambridge University Press.
485:Sudan's Painful Road To Peace
388:Comprehensive Peace Agreement
95:Gordon Muortat Mayen Maborjok
645:Addis Ababa Agreement (1972)
550:. African Books Collective.
501:O. Collins, Robert (2008).
754:
718:South Sudanese Protestants
376:Rebecca Nyandeng De Mabior
698:People from Lakes (state)
630:Arop, Arop Madut (2006).
518:"South Sudan News Agency"
503:A History of Modern Sudan
483:Arop, Arop-Madut (2006).
160:Sirr Al-Khatim Al-Khalifa
88:
28:
738:Leaders ousted by a coup
688:First Sudanese Civil War
634:. BookSurge. p. 61.
546:Anders Breidlid (2010).
448:Lokosang, L. B. (2010).
225:First Sudanese Civil War
107:First Sudanese Civil War
576:Gatkuoth Gatluak, Lul.
561:James Omunson, Lukano.
275:Anyanya Patriotic Front
235:, future leader of the
703:Sudanese police chiefs
452:. Xlibris Corporation.
350:
216:
164:Muhammad Ahmad Mahgoub
147:
348:
257:Addis Ababa Agreement
233:John Garang de Mabior
214:
187:Sudanese Armed Forces
145:
341:Later life and death
54:Anglo-Egyptian Sudan
23:Gordon Muortat Mayen
368:Salva Kiir Mayardit
219:Muortat joined the
733:Exiled politicians
430:. Scarecrow Press.
394:fly at half mast.
380:Clement Wani Konga
351:
217:
148:
97:(1922–2008) was a
131:Western Equatoria
92:
91:
745:
673:
672:
665:
659:
656:
647:
642:
636:
635:
627:
621:
620:
613:
607:
602:
596:
595:
588:
582:
581:
573:
567:
566:
558:
552:
551:
543:
537:
536:
528:
522:
521:
513:
507:
506:
498:
489:
488:
480:
469:
468:
460:
454:
453:
445:
432:
431:
423:
384:Daniel Awet Akot
307:Muammar Ghaddafi
138:Political career
38:Personal details
33:
19:
753:
752:
748:
747:
746:
744:
743:
742:
723:Sudanese rebels
678:
677:
676:
667:
666:
662:
657:
650:
643:
639:
629:
628:
624:
615:
614:
610:
603:
599:
590:
589:
585:
575:
574:
570:
560:
559:
555:
545:
544:
540:
530:
529:
525:
516:Wel, PaanLuel.
515:
514:
510:
500:
499:
492:
482:
481:
472:
462:
461:
457:
447:
446:
435:
425:
424:
417:
413:
400:
343:
277:
209:
204:
140:
119:
69:
47:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
751:
749:
741:
740:
735:
730:
725:
720:
715:
710:
705:
700:
695:
690:
680:
679:
675:
674:
660:
648:
637:
622:
608:
597:
583:
568:
553:
538:
523:
508:
490:
470:
455:
433:
414:
412:
409:
399:
396:
342:
339:
318:Gaafar Nimeiry
276:
273:
249:Gaafar Nimeiry
208:
205:
203:
200:
171:Southern Front
152:Bahr el-Ghazal
139:
136:
118:
115:
111:Southern Front
90:
89:
86:
85:
82:
78:
77:
66:
62:
61:
48:Karagok (near
44:
40:
39:
35:
34:
26:
25:
22:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
750:
739:
736:
734:
731:
729:
726:
724:
721:
719:
716:
714:
711:
709:
706:
704:
701:
699:
696:
694:
691:
689:
686:
685:
683:
670:
664:
661:
655:
653:
649:
646:
641:
638:
633:
626:
623:
618:
612:
609:
606:
601:
598:
593:
587:
584:
579:
572:
569:
564:
557:
554:
549:
542:
539:
534:
527:
524:
519:
512:
509:
504:
497:
495:
491:
486:
479:
477:
475:
471:
466:
459:
456:
451:
444:
442:
440:
438:
434:
429:
422:
420:
416:
410:
408:
404:
397:
395:
393:
389:
385:
381:
377:
373:
369:
365:
360:
356:
347:
340:
338:
334:
332:
326:
324:
319:
314:
312:
308:
303:
299:
295:
291:
287:
283:
274:
272:
270:
266:
260:
258:
254:
250:
245:
240:
238:
234:
230:
226:
222:
213:
206:
201:
199:
197:
192:
188:
184:
180:
176:
172:
167:
165:
161:
157:
153:
144:
137:
135:
132:
128:
124:
116:
114:
112:
108:
104:
100:
96:
87:
83:
79:
76:
72:
67:
63:
59:
55:
51:
45:
41:
36:
32:
27:
20:
693:Dinka people
663:
640:
631:
625:
611:
600:
586:
571:
556:
547:
541:
526:
511:
502:
487:. BookSurge.
484:
464:
458:
449:
427:
405:
401:
352:
335:
330:
327:
315:
278:
261:
241:
229:Aggrey Jaden
218:
202:Rebel leader
168:
149:
120:
94:
93:
713:2008 deaths
708:1922 births
392:Lakes State
364:South Sudan
323:John Garang
298:Anyanya two
253:Joseph Lagu
244:Joseph Lagu
207:Anyanya One
175:Bona Malwal
105:during the
58:South Sudan
682:Categories
411:References
372:Abel Alier
302:Anyanya II
286:Pagan Amum
156:Upper Nile
117:Early life
81:Occupation
290:Deng Alor
382:and Mr.
99:Sudanese
671:. GOSS.
267:or the
221:Anyanya
196:Anyanya
103:Anyanya
56:, (Now
398:Legacy
359:SPLA/M
355:Rumbek
123:Rumbek
71:Rumbek
50:Rumbek
331:Mecca
127:Dinka
75:Sudan
311:SPLA
288:and
282:SPLA
237:SPLA
191:Arab
179:Juba
154:and
65:Died
46:1922
43:Born
294:BBC
269:OAU
183:Wau
52:),
684::
651:^
493:^
473:^
436:^
418:^
370:,
325:.
265:UN
181:,
73:,
619:.
594:.
580:.
565:.
535:.
520:.
467:.
60:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
