Islamic Movement for the Liberation of Raja

Islamic Movement for the Liberation of Raja or the Raja Liberation Front (IMLR; Arabic: جبهة تحرير راجا, romanized: Jabhat taḥrīr R̄ājā) is a South Sudanese rebel group operating in Western Bahr el Ghazal, created and led by Ali Tamim Fartak.

History

IMLR first surfaced on 15 June 2016 when the group attacked and briefly captured the town of Raga in Lol State, killing dozens of government soldiers including 7 bodyguards of the Lol State governor Rezik Zechariah Hassan.[1][2] On 28 June, the same rebel group clashed with government forces in Wau, the capital of Wau State, killing 39 civilians and 4 police officers. South Sudan's information minister Michael Makuei Lueth stated that the rebels came from Sudan and had the crossed the border to attack Raga and Wau.[3] Lueth told reporters that Fartak "was trying to carve out an Islamist state" and that his group included members of the notorious Lord's Resistance Army and the Janjaweed.[4][5] Lueth also blamed the Sudanese government for supporting the rebels.[5] The Sudanese embassy in Juba denied the accusations, stating that "Sudan has no connection, near or far, to those armed confrontations that took place in the two cities".[1] The SPLM-IO shadow governor for Wau, Peter Tingo disputed the governments claims about an new rebel group. Tingo stated that the attacks in Raja and Wau were conducted by a SPLM-IO-linked tribal militia.[6][7]

References

  1. ^ a b "هل توجد حركة إسلامية متمردة في جنوب السودان؟". الجزيرة نت (in Arabic). Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  2. ^ "President Kiir fires Wau state governor". Sudan Tribune. 25 June 2016. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  3. ^ "Over 40 people killed in South Sudan's town of Wau: official". Sudan Tribune. 29 June 2016. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  4. ^ "South Sudan says new rebel group has formed; 43 said killed". AP News. 28 June 2016. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  5. ^ a b Denis Dumo (28 June 2016). "Rebel, army clashes kill 43 near South Sudan's Wau: government". reuters.com. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  6. ^ Darius Wani. "Dozens killed during clashes in Wau". www.theniles.org. Archived from the original on 4 October 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  7. ^ "Residents Leery of Reported Calm in S. Sudan Town Hit by Rampage". Voice of America. 28 June 2016. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
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