( CNN ) -- The newly independent Republic of South Sudan has announced the death of a prominent renegade rebel leader . Lt. Gen. George Athor and one of his soldiers were killed in a clash with the country 's military , Vice President Riek Machar told reporters Tuesday . He said they had infiltrated South Sudan on their way out of Rwanda via the eastern border area of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda . The claim has not been verified by an independent body . A dissident commander of the Sudan People 's Liberation Army , or SPLA , Athor rebelled after losing a gubernatorial election in the spring of 2010 . He called for numerous orchestrated clashes after the announcement of his defeat . `` Under the banner of his South Sudan Democratic Movement ( SSDM ) and its military wing , the South Sudan Army , Gen. Athor was considered the most powerful post-election insurrectionist '' the Geneva-based independent research project said in its 2011 report on what was then southern Sudan . The Small Arms Survey says that although both the government of South Sudan and the SPLA have alleged that Athor received support from the Sudan government in Khartoum , there is no independent evidence to support these claims . The death of Athor was not part of a government plan , because the government had declared general amnesty to all rebel groups in South Sudan , the vice president told reporters . The government is appealing to all of Athor 's followers to heed the amnesty , which was declared on July 9 when the country celebrated its independence from Sudan . John Prendergast , co-founder of the Enough Project , said the reported death of Athor `` highlights the urgency with which the South Sudan government , with international support , must address inter-communal divisions within the South . Another Athor will emerge tomorrow unless real progress is made in providing political and economic opportunities that feel marginalized in the process of independence . '' The Enough Project works to expose genocide and crimes against humanity .
South Sudan 's vice president announced the death of Lt . Gen. George Athor . The death has not been verified by an independent source . He rebelled after losing a gubernatorial election in the month of April .