Update: General Taban Gai - his War and Why He Should be Charged with War Crimes, Rape

Taban Gai Update

"It's such a high level of incidents, widespread, been going on for a substantial period of time, not isolated incidents, [and] one can only conclude that war crimes involving sexual violence are taking place," (War crimes prosecutor Ken Scott, Al-Jazeera)

By now some of you have met General Taban Deng Gai in New York and probably have listened to him speak, possibly cogently on matters, but that is just a front, his political gifts are manipulation and scheming, which is the reason why half of the 40 person UN General Assembly delegation (55%) is from his office, to lobby many of you, if you will — to appease and win over the powerful International Block he needs to "reign" in South Sudan.

Notice his pro-climate change speech on last Saturday at the General Assembly meeting, yet a review of his gubernatorial record in his home state on the environment shows contradictions. See an Al-Jazeera photo of the Thar Jath extraction plant in Unity State from 2015 article titled "Abandoned oilfield a toxic wasteland in South Sudan:"

Recall the 2009-2013 investigation by German aid agency Sign of Hope where they found life-threatening metals from oil wells contaminating water supplies in Unity State, threatening the health of 300,000 citizens. At places like Rier, one of the most affected villages, tests found high levels of inedible salts and poisonous lead.

As well, his UN General Assembly speech spoke of a need for a balanced approach toward peace — but he does not mean it, for if you interview his opponents or associates (some will need protection from him if they speak against him) they would tell you he is a main actor (co- plotter) in this war, a Ruthless general.

Mr. Taban Gai is man who will harm — rape or kill any man or woman in the way of his advancement toward the throne of  the South Sudan Presidency, his ultimate goal!!!

In this UNGA speech Mr. Gai said to the world and friends of South Sudan that they should focus on developmental not humanitarian assistance, yet  you will find he is the driver (the catalyst) behind the war, particularly since July 2016

• First, orchestrating military elements in a quest to kill the real First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar; 

• Secondly, to to subdue or kill opposition figures supporting Dr. Machar, including those on UN camps and Protection sites. Death squads would even enter these camps to assassinate key opposing persons like governors or critics like myself, and 

• Thirdly, General Gai ordered military campaigns such as the recent July attack on the SPLM-IO headquarters in Pagak, which displaced tens of thousands (over 50,000 persons).

Mr. Gai speaks in his UN speech of improving humanitarian access yet it is he and his transitional government that the UN have warned to stop impeding their humanitarian work; on violence against humanitarian workers and why recently UN sanctions were imposed against another major peace obstructor Michael Makuei. Recall the seven aid workers with UNICEF who were killed on 25 March 2017 or the Red Cross worker killed on 9 September 2017.


Taban Gai 's State Strategy — Use Rape/Sexual Violence as Preferred Weapon of War

So how can you trust anything from his mouth, it is he and fellow co-plotter Ambassador Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth along with the 2013 Civil War Architect General Paul Malong who incited their soldiers into a blood thirsty frenzy in July 2016 where they felt gang-raping foreigner humanitarian workers was fine.

If you are strong enough listen to the BBC interviews of rape victims from the US and EU who, by the way, say soldiers specifically asked each
victim their nationality. See here.

I am a proud American, who is honorably discharged, veteran with nearly a decade of service to my country — I cannot see or accept my nation  
befriending a regime/leaders who do such horrendous things to fellow citizens. 

If the USA accepts such humiliation of even one citizen it  
weakens our national honour, our international prestige and encourages others to abuse our citizens globally without fear or consequences!!!

Earlier, I researched the responsibilities of sovereign states while in Scandinavia, reviewing conflicts of the former Yugoslavia where the trend of using sexual violence as a weapon of war saw a new dimension, the use of "sex camps" to inflict harm on targeted people, mainly women.

Unfortunately, again we see this weapon used during this civil war in South Sudan, a new dimension has been reached with the level of depravity unleashed on women during this war while the Elite enrich themselves on the countries resources.

The war crimes prosecutor Ken Scott, who has worked on many tribunals, told Al-Jazeera that the level of sexual violence in South Sudan is the worst he has ever seen. See here.

The center of the war was Juba, where President Kiir and General Taban Gai were based with the army, And so this was where sexual violence was greatest, as the 2016 HCT survey bears out and shows undeniably that soldiers and police were the main perpetrators of rape and sexual violence citizens. see below:

As I close, I  remind all that the current leaders of South Sudan have a greed or profit motive as well, not only annihilation of a specific group. I have been informed that the imposed Taban Deng Gai is using a registered South Sudan company based in Juba called NyaKek (possibly NyanKek) to filter state funds for his personal use and enrichment.

Please nations, researchers, NGOs... follow the money if you want to see a real remora at work, stealing millions while millions starve and are displaced in six different nations in the region, and  — neglect innocent children to die of simple ailments while hundreds of thousands attend no school.

All that I know and have learned about Taban Deng Gai since 2013 leads me to believe he is a new-age Hitler, a man so dark and ruthless, he is  capable of killing every citizen in his country only to sit alone upon a throne of the skulls of his brethren.

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The reason for no Peace in South Sudan, millions displaced/starving - And why Taban Deng Gai should be arrested upon his Arrival in New York

While millions of South Sudanese starve, the Juba elite and their regional and global friends (Enablers) are making millions – such as the so-called humanitarian Republic of Uganda who shelters one million South Sudanese refugees (though it has provided significant military support, troops, equipment to the war) while it exports gold worth $200 million and now has built a gold refinery.

Where is this Gold coming from, their neighbor South Sudan, where several nations involved in bringing peace there, such as USA (pre-Trump, the Kerry Era) Uganda, China and South Africa have firms mining Gold, Diamonds, Uranium, Silver, precious gems, Cobalt, Aluminum, Iron, Nickel and Zinc (The imposed General Taban Deng Gai was the Minister of Mining for those recent contracts.

Uganda opened its first national gold refinery in Entebbe during February 2017 to process raw gold from South Sudan and the DRC (processing over 1.5 tons monthly) – though it has no commercial mines. Its gold exports went from 0 to $200 million in 2016, thanks to South Sudan and its conflict.

At the center of this war-for-profit effort are key co-plotters General Taban Deng Gai and Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth, former senior cadre of the SPLM-IO of the Dr. Riek Machar who decided to eliminate him and take over control of the opposition party. General Taban Gai was made Minister of Mining and Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth was made Chief of Staff of Dr. Machar's office (these assignments both men disliked greatly).

Once Dr. Machar was run out of the country in July 2016, these two: Gai/Lol, engineered a violent takeover of the SPLM-IO party in cooperation with President Salva Kiir that consisted of monetary/position inducements (presidential appointments); threats or blackmail via rape/non-consensual sex filmed for political leverage against key Opposition leaders.


Question: How Rampant is General Taban Deng Gai's penchant for using rape of Men and Women as a Weapon of War and for Political Maneuvering/Opposition suppression?

With full control of key Opposition leaders and cooperation with the Kiir regime, General Taban Gai helped formed so-called transitional government of national – albeit its focus was not development and stablising the economy, which has steadily been declining since the government’s formation, including exorbitant currency rates, dollar shortages, high prices as well as lack of healthcare, education, security and basic food items. 

Mr. Invisible: General Taban Deng Gai -

My sources tell me General Taban Deng Gai initiated a legal case in Dubai, UAE. He sued the sons of a deceased business partner to retrieve tens of millions of dollars (the court ruling issued this year is unknown, but I have been told it did not go in his favor) - though I normally do not like to speculate as a rule, the original source of this information is Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth in this case, Taban Gai's trusted number two. So where did these millions come from originally?

Given the openness of Dubai, I am sure naysayers can investigate this quite easily – but my point is that Mr Taban Deng Gai has been one of those "invisible" people silently getting rich off of the nation’s woes and these wars, while the majority of citizens suffer. One area I would like investigators to review is whether Mr. Gai while a Governor embezzled some of the oil money designated to Unity State, which receives 2 percent of oil revenue, over $10 million monthly as one of the oil-producing states.

Now he has hornswoggled the VP position, which can reap him power, money and maybe the acutely desired respect he has long sought given he has been disliked in his home state and the capital Juba for a long time, which is why he uses money to “make friends” and buy influence. Given the recent US Treasury announcement, targeting those involved in obstructing Peace or benefiting from this war . . . meaning, Taban Deng Gai and Ezekial Lol Gatkuoth . . .  They should be prime suspects/candidates for sanctions as well as listed as war criminals for their central role in atrocities post-July 2016 in South Sudan.

Biography of General Taban Deng Gai

Who is Taban Deng Gai? He was born to a mother from Unity State and a father from northern Sudan — the Shaigiya tribe. Mr. Taban Deng Gai is married with children. He is an astute politician and soldier; he was a key aide of Dr. John Garang and later Dr. Riek Machar. He is well-known to be an ruthlessly ambitious man who hates to lose and is capable of doing anything to win.

_ _ _`

A poignant example is the historic 2010 election in which Ms. Teny lost, two civilians were killed, he kidnapped and held as hostages the country Vice President Dr. Riek Machar and the gubernatorial candidate who had won the race according to international observers (that winner was Madame Angela Jany Teny — Dr. Machar's wife). Ms. Teny had her car shot at during the campaign and their house was surrounded by tanks and soldiers courtesy of General Gai and President Kiir. The Vice President and Ms. Teny escaped and that same day General Taban Gai was declared Governor of Unity state though votes  in his favour were minimal (Mr. Gai himself has acknowledged he lost 7 of 9 counties then).

The most damning evidence should come from the recent Opposition party mutiny and near assassination of President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar at J1 (the Presidential Palace) on 8 July 2016. The ensuing war saw First Vice President Machar and Madame Teny “escape again”, by foot to the Democratic Republic of Congo. And the razing of the SPLM-IO Opposition area called Site I (the VP’s residence) as well as hunting down their officials and advisors (local and foreign).

Post-analysis and reports of the J1 incident show key plotters of J1 were former Chief of Staff Paul Malong; General Taban Gai; Akol Koor Kuc (head of National Intelligence) and Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth. 

The goal is said to have been to install General Paul Malong as President and Taban Gai as First Vice President; and Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth as the Petroleum Minister with the "former" leaders Kiir/Machar expected to be killed in the crossfire — which did not happen, complicating the ascension plan of General Taban, who was not particularly trusted by General Paul Malong since he betrayed his long-time leader and friend, Dr. Riek Machar.

Mr. Gai's ambition and ruthlessness are legendary so not many trust him, for he uses people until he has no need. Many SPLM-IOs of Dr. Machar, post July 2016, have reported they were given a simple choice: serve me (meaning, Taban Gai) or die!

Investigations Needed into General Taban Deng Gai’s Finances

Given recent revelations of Mr. Gai's loss of millions of dollars in Dubai, and observing the mining ministry’s activities since General Gai's arrival there in May 2016, a serious review is needed of financial transactions of South Sudan which will likely reveal corruption/connections to General Taban Deng Gai.

A key firm to review is Sabina Ltd based in Unity State, which is partially owned by General Taban Gai and said to be his conduit for siphoning state funds out of the area. This company has been involved in many contracts in construction, roads, electricity, etc. and was the only private contractor approved by the state for several years during the reign of General Taban Deng Gai as governor.

Here are some companies and countries doing mining in South Sudan:

1. Zhonghao Exploration & Mining Company - China

2. Fortune Minerals Ltd, London, Ontario - Canada

3. Epic Exploration Pty Ltd, West Perth - Australia

4. Equation Mining Inc., Alaska, | Blackstone for Mining Co. Ltd, Idaho - USA

5. SASS Minerals and Petroleum Pty - South Africa

6. LuckyFriends Trading and Construction Co. Ltd (Company number: 102163) - Uganda

The above list points to alternative reasons why several of these countries are/have supported the corrupt and abusive regime of President Salva Kiir: MONEY, GOLD, DIAMONDS, etc. Personal gain perhaps among officials in some of these countries: US, Uganda, South Africa?

But the violent nature of this regime should itself repel US and Europe greatly, particularly since the rape rampage in July 2016 at Terrain Hotel attributable to General Taban Gai's violent takeover plan. Listening to the below BBC interviews of several rape victims, one sees Juba's violent State policy against American and European persons and interests as well against it citizens. If you can stomach horrible truths, listen to these heart-wrenching stories:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYoIRwm8iX8


Massive level of Sexual Assaults in Juba

The one area where it is clear that the government leadership under President Kiir and General Taban Deng Gai is failing miserably is security, intentionally so it seems for their weak responses/irresponsible utterances are tantamount to condoning serious human rights abuse — on a monumental scale — and giving rise to the rampant use of Sexual Violence as a Weapon of War. 

Within the capital city of Juba where the government has firm control, its security forces, primarily police and soldiers, have been identified by victims as the main perpetrators of horrendous sexual assaults, gang rapes — all occurring on a massive scale against IDP women according to the UN. See the June 2016 HCT South Sudan report by UNHCR where the survey of the UN Protection of Civilians camps in Juba shows — three out of every four women have been raped. See below, from page 60:

As well, General Taban Gai's thirst for power and money is threatening regional and even global security, actually destabilising it, for countries like Egypt and North Korea have military cooperation agreements with the Juba regime. See, 

North Korea’s Kim Jong signed a deal a military cooperation with South Sudan - link

The question is why the former US administration of President Obama would support a government which the United Nations and its panel of experts have considered one of the gravest abusers of human rights in modern times.

Finally, I have tried to shine a light on a globally invisible, yet influential long-time political figure of South Sudan who I hope the West will not take serious (and avoid association with him) for the monumental blood on his hands is that of a war criminal.

Abu Deng, ig