Top security officers in Western Bahr el Ghazal defect to Machar rebellion
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March 31, 2014 (JUBA) - Senior security officers in South Sudan's
border state of Western Bahr el Ghazal have defected to rebel forces
under the leadership of former vice-president Riek Machar.
JPEG - 13.7 kb
Thousands of soldiers have defected from the South Sudanese army
(SPLA) since conflict erupted in mid-December, including a number of
high profile commanding officers (Photo: Reuters/Goran Tomasevic)
The officers made the public declaration at Farajallah, an area
located about 40km south-west of state capital Wau, where sources
claim they announced they were leaving "the most corrupt and
tyrannical regime" in South Sudan to join the "people's revolution".
The leader of the group remains unknown, although Western Bahr el
Ghazal police commissioner Gen. Akot Deng Akot identified one of the
officers as Maj. Martin Logo.
In a statement broadcast by state-owned South Sudan Television (SSTV)
on Sunday, Akot said the security situation in the state remained
relatively calm despite the defections.
Logo's desertion was reportedly related to an offer from the rebel
movement to promote him to the rank of Major General.
The whereabouts of Logo and the officers remained unknown, although
security authorities have launched a search.
According to Akot, authorities in the area have been closely
monitoring the activities of some politicians and officers, including
Logo.
Some sources suggested the officers may have been smuggled out of area
during an attempt to launch a rebellion in Wau town at the airport and
Busere area.
HIGH-PROFILE DEFECTIONS
Dozens of army generals have defected since political tensions erupted
in violence in mid-December last year, pitting pro-Machar rebels
against forces loyal to the Salva Kiir-led national government.
Zonal commanders from the South Sudanese army's (SPLA) 8th, 4th and
7th divisions were among those to switch their allegiance from the
government.
Maj. Gen. Peter Gadet Yak, who was commanding the SPLA's 8th division
in Jonglei state, was the first senior military officer to break ranks
and declare armed opposition to the government.
General Yak claimed his action was necessitated by the killing of
innocent civilians from his Nuer ethnic group in Juba by SPLA forces.
It is alleged that the atrocities were predominantly carried out by
members of the Dinka ethnic group from Kiir's Bahr el Ghazal region.
Prior to his defection, Yak had been responsible for the state's
disarmament process, overseeing the collection of firearms and other
illicit weapons in the region.
James Koang Chuol, a 4th division commander, followed suit, declaring
himself Unity state's caretaker governor. He claimed he had been under
pressure from officers to act or risk being killed.
Thousands of South Sudanese soldiers from the Nuer ethnic group have
either defected or fled the country over the past few months, although
the numbers have not yet reached a level that would threaten the
regime and most of the complex infrastructure of the government's
multiple security and intelligence branches remains in place.
Politicians from the Bahr el Ghazal region are currently participating
in peace talks in Ethiopia being mediated by the Intergovernmental
Authority on Development (IGAD) as part of the Machar-led delegation.
Representatives from the Greater Equatoria region who share the same
views on the root cause of the conflict have also declared their
support for Machar.
CHANGING MOOD
Observers have expressed fear it is only a matter of time before mass
defection and recruitment across the country takes place against the
government, which has been widely criticised for failing to deliver
basic services and adequate protection to ordinary citizens and their
properties, particularly in the three states of the Upper Nile region.
One local observer who spoke on condition of anonymity told Sudan
Tribune on Monday that citizens have increasingly lost trust in the
current administration and are looking for change.
The alleged involvement of the army in ethnic-related violence had
also raised tensions, he said.
"The destruction of cities and villages, and the commission of
massacres against certain ethnic group and people - mostly defenceless
civilians who [knew] little about political differences - had prompted
many military officers and politicians to switch allegiance," he
added.
(ST)
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