Who Is UFASS? Four Opposition Groups Sign a Joint Alliance
Four groups signed a political and military memorandum, but the size, deployment and operational capacity of their forces remain unverified.
KENYA — Four South Sudanese opposition organisations operating outside the country signed a memorandum on 30 September creating the United Fronts Alliance of South Sudan (UFASS). Radio Tamazuj says it reviewed the agreement, which describes a political and military alliance and a common platform for negotiations.
Who signed?
- Hope and Salvation Front/Army (HSFA): Gen. Malang Kerubino Kuanyin.
- Revolutionary Patriotic Movement/Front (RMP/RPF): Ambassador Adel Sandrai.
- South Sudan United National Front/Army (SSUNF/A): Gen. Philip Stephen Dak Onwar.
- South Sudan Democratic Movement/Army (SSDM/A): Gen. Dau Deng Ahecyl.
Each signed as the chairman and commander-in-chief of his organisation. This identifies the claims made in the memorandum; independent confirmation of each leader’s current command, personnel and presence inside South Sudan remains necessary.
How is UFASS organised?
The agreement establishes a High Council comprising the four leaders, a chief of joint allied forces and a senior representative from each group. It envisages a chairperson, deputies, a secretary-general and a secretariat. The member groups retain their identities, while UFASS is described as their sole platform for peace negotiations and international engagements. The text calls for coordination of political, human and material resources and for decisions by the council to bind members.
Those clauses create a framework on paper. They do not show that a joint command is functioning in the field or that IGAD, the African Union, United Nations or South Sudanese authorities have accepted UFASS as a negotiating party.
What does it seek?
UFASS advocates an inclusive political process and a federal system in which states and regions elect their leaders, with a president as head of state and an executive prime minister accountable to parliament. The memorandum also pledges security-sector reform, stronger institutions, action on corruption and the protection of civilians. It does not set out a detailed constitutional route to that system.
Its creation comes as South Sudan approaches a scheduled December election with opposition participation and the future of the 2018 peace framework under debate. Consolidation may change who speaks for these four groups in mediation, but the alliance’s practical influence depends on membership, discipline and whether the parties choose dialogue, electoral participation or armed activity. No plan for an offensive has been established by the document reviewed in the reporting.
What needs verification now?
The original memorandum and any annexes should be published. The signatories should disclose their personnel, areas of operation, chain of command and ceasefire commitments, and say whether they intend to join the political dialogue or contest the election. IGAD, AU, UNMISS, CTSAMVM and the government should state whether they have received an approach from UFASS and how they regard its status. Allegations of financing or external sponsorship require evidence before publication.