Taban Deng Gai

In addition to Salva and Riek current Vice-Presidents Taban Deng Gai and James Wani Igga received invitations as did Rebecca Nyandeng John Garang's widow who is expected to fill the vice presidential slot allowed to the 'Former Detainees' Group (AC Vol 59 No 6 Salva stalls the peacemakers and 59 No 19 No cash no peace)...

There is still widespread international concern about the failure to end fighting around Yei and between supporters of chief rebel leader Riek Machar and loyalists of the current First Vice-President Taban Deng Gai in the main opposition heartland of central Unity State (AC Vol 58 No 22 No let-up in southern fighting)...

These are the incumbent Transitional Government of National Unity (basically the SPLA-in Government faction along with the former SPLA-in Opposition faction of Taban Deng Gai); the mainstream SPLA-In Opposition faction of Riek Machar the nine-member South Sudan Opposition Alliance; the grouping of Other Opposition Parties; and the SPLM-former detainees...

Despite all evidence to the contrary Salva maintains that his decision to replace Machar with Machar's former deputy Taban Deng Gai was enough to end the conflict (AC Vol 57 No 17 Pax Salvatica)...

Not least among the consequences of this was the casting of a pall over the decision by the then US Secretary of State John Kerry to recognise Taban Deng Gai's July 2016 coup against his boss Riek (AC Vol 57 No 17 Pax Salvatica)...

If IGAD's proposal stands Salva would lose at least one of his two deputies: first Vice-President Taban Deng Gai or second Vice-President James Wani Igga...

Taban Deng Gai a Nuer is Riek's former chief negotiator who schemed with Juba to take over Riek's job after the army drove Riek out of the country in 2016...

Thus following Salva's replacement of Riek with his former deputy Taban Deng Gai after the resumption of fighting in July 2016 there is no longer a single SPLM-IO but two: SPLM-IO-In the Bush (SPLM-IO/1) and SPLM-IO-In Government (SPLM-IO/IG)...

His replacement as First Vice-President by his former henchman Taban Deng Gai is now widely accepted but is unlikely to promote lasting peace (AC Vol 57 No 17 Pax Salvatica)...

On 23 August Taban Deng Gai who replaced Riek in Salva's government flew to Sudan for talks with the government...

The replacement of First Vice-President (FVP) Riek Machar Teny Dhurgon by his former chief negotiator with the government Taban Deng Gai on 23 July has thrown regional and international mediators into disarray: they fear it could finally scupper August's internationally brokered peace agreement...

The Taban takeover Will Taban Deng Gai's takeover of Riek Machar Teny Dhurgon's job as First Vice-President (FVP) on 23 July usher in a new peace or just create another armed faction...