In July 2005, John Garang de Mabior, the leader of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), died in a helicopter crash in southern Sudan. Garang had just been appointed Sudan's First Vice President as part of a peace agreement aimed at ending decades of civil war between north and south Sudan. His death, coming so soon after this landmark power-sharing deal, shocked the nation and sparked riots, speculation and conspiracy theories.
Garang was a complex figure, seen by some as a charismatic liberator and by others as an intolerant autocrat. He rose to prominence as the leader of the southern rebel group SPLM and its military wing, the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA). With US backing, Garang fought against the Sudanese government for over two decades in Africa's longest civil war. In 2005, he signed the Comprehensive Peace Agreement which granted autonomy to southern Sudan and made Garang First Vice President.
Just three weeks into his new role, Garang died returning from a visit to Uganda. He had met the Ugandan president at his ranch along with Western diplomats. According to some reports, the meeting involved heated discussions over south Sudan's oil reserves. Garang rejected Western demands to renegotiate concessions made to Chinese firms by the Sudanese government.
Hours later, Garang boarded an Ugandan presidential helicopter to return to Sudan. The aircraft crashed into a mountain range near the Ugandan border, killing all on board. The official investigation concluded bad weather and pilot error caused the accident.
However, the circumstances aroused suspicion. Garang had hidden his travel plans from the Sudanese president and opted against his security detail on the trip. The Ugandan government dismissed claims the helicopter was a decoy, not the presidential aircraft. The crash site was not easily accessible, leading to theories that evidence was tampered with before investigators arrived.
Some call for the black box recorders to be re-examined, questioning if the recovered device was genuine. One former minister claims investigators were bribed to cover up foul play. Others point to Western intelligence agencies potentially engineering Garang's demise after his defiant stance on Sudan's oil.
Yet no concrete evidence indicates his death resulted from more than an unfortunate accident. Those propagating conspiracy theories have political motivations. Garang's widow and eldest son reject accusations of assassination. The probe involved experts from Russia, the US and regional nations who found no proof of sabotage.
Nonetheless, doubts linger over the Ugandan meetings preceding the crash. The diplomats present refuse further comment on the nature of their discussions with Garang. His death came at a sensitive time, depriving south Sudan of his leadership during the transition to autonomy.
While the exact circumstances of his demise remain unclear, Garang's critical role in Sudan's peace process is undisputed. The charismatic rebel commander turned statesman is remembered as the leading figure in South Sudan's independence struggle, even if he did not live to see its fulfilment. Ten years on from the mysterious helicopter crash, John Garang remains a towering yet enigmatic figure in Sudan's history.
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