[3] Well armed and relatively numerous, the SSPA mostly operates in Northern Bahr el Ghazal and is considered to be one of the most powerful rebel groups in South Sudan.

[1][4] From its first appearance, the SSPA possessed equipment that was unusually sophisticated for a new rebel group, including uniforms, technicals, PK machine guns, RPGs, and Kalashnikov rifles.

[10] The SSPA's initial base reportedly was Meram in Aweil East State, from where it started to attack positions of the SPLA in the nearby Rumaker in late April 2017.

[4] In June, the militia claimed to have captured the towns of Malek Gumel and Warguet, and announced its plans to conquer Paul Malong Awan's hometown of Malualkon, near Aweil.

The government officially denied the fall of either town to the rebels,[1][5] while a local policeman confirmed that Malek Gumel had been conquered by the SSPA, though Warguet remained under SPLA control.

Gen. Agany declared himself "interim leader" of the entire South Sudan Patriotic Movement, effectively ousting Costello Garang Ring as the party's head.

He claimed that he had been elected by the SSPM/A's other leading figures after Costello had failed to uphold his commitment to the ongoing Khartoum peace talks between the government and various rebel factions.

[16] The dispute continued until 4 September, when another SSPA commander announced that Agany and Costello had reconciled, with the latter having agreed to "resolve some administrative issues".