Operation Thunderbolt (1997)

Operation Thunderbolt (1997)
Part of the Second Sudanese Civil War and the First Congo War
Date 9 March – late April 1997 Location Western and Central Equatoria, Sudan Result SPLA victory Territorial changes Most of Western and Central Equatoria is captured by the SPLA
Belligerents
Sudan WNBF UNRF (II)  Zaire SSIM/A Ex-FAR LRA/LSA	SPLA  Uganda Ethiopia  Eritrea
Commanders and leaders
Unidentified major general[1] Juma Oris (WIA) (WNBF) Abdulatif Tiyua (POW) (WNBF) Jean-Marie Magabo (POW) (Ex-FAR) Joseph Kony (LRA/LSA)	Salva Kiir Mayardit James Hoth Mai Yoweri Museveni Salim Saleh Katumba Wamala James Kazini Unidentified Ethiopian commanders
Units involved
SAF Equatoria garrisons FAZ remnants	SPLA-Torit UPDF 23rd Battalion Ethiopian Army Eritrean Army
Strength
Thousands	~12,000
Casualties and losses
Sudan: thousands killed or wounded; thousands captured WNBF: at least 800 killed, 1,000 captured UNRF (II): Heavy	Unknown
Many civilians displaced

Operation Thunderbolt (9 March – late April 1997) was the codename for a military offensive by the South Sudanese SPLA rebel group and its allies during the Second Sudanese Civil War. The operation aimed at conquering several towns in Western and Central Equatoria, most importantly Yei, which served as strongholds for the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and helped the Sudanese government to supply its allies, the Ugandan insurgents of the WNBF and UNRF (II) based in Zaire. These pro-Sudanese forces were defeated and driven from Zaire by the SPLA and its allies, namely Uganda and the AFDL, in course of the First Congo War, thus allowing the SPLA launch Operation Thunderbolt from the Zairian side of the border. Covertly supported by expeditionary forces from Uganda, Ethiopia, and Eritrea, the SPLA's offensive was a major success, with several SAF garrison towns falling to the South Sudanese rebels in a matter of days. Yei was encircled and put under siege on 11 March 1997. At the same time, a large group of WNBF fighters as well as SAF, FAZ, and ex-Rwandan Armed Forces soldiers was trying to escape from Zaire to Yei. The column was ambushed and destroyed by the SPLA, allowing it to capture Yei shortly afterward. Following this victory, the South Sudanese rebels continued their offensive until late April, capturing several other towns in Equatoria and preparing further anti-government campaigns.

The success of Operation Thunderbolt significantly strengthened the SPLA in Western Equatoria, and weakened the Sudanese government's control over its southern territories. The South Sudanese rebels were thus able to expand their operations, and raised global awareness for their cause. Furthermore, the WNBF and UNRF (II) suffered heavy losses during the offensive. Taken together with their defeats in the First Congo War, they were permanently weakened, and in case of the WNBF, effectively defeated as active fighting forces.