South Sudan senior SPLA-IO commanders defect to SPLA in Unity region
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August 21, 2016 (BENTIU) – A number of senior military commanders,
mainly from Guit, the home county of the newly appointed First Vice
President, Taban Deng Gai, in Unity region, have defected to the South
Sudanese army (SPLA) under the leadership of President Salva Kiir.
JPEG - 46 kb
First Vice President, Riek Machar, accompanied by SPLA-IO officers,
Juba, 27 May, 2016 (ST Photo)
Lt. Gen. Dor Manjuor, Gen. Liah Diu and Gen. Makal Kuol have confirmed
to Sudan Tribune in separate satellite phone interviews that they are
no longer supporting former first vice president Riek Machar, adding
they are part of the group allied to new South Sudan first vice
president Taban Deng Gai.
Although the three Generals were reported last month to have defected
to Gai with their bodyguards, Gen. Liah denied that he defected to
Gand told Sudan Tribune he did not support the new South Sudan first
vice president.
But on Sunday Gen. Liah indeed told Sudan Tribune he is not any longer
loyal to Machar, a move which contradicted his earlier last month’s
statement. Observers said he refused to declare his open support to
Gai because he feared for his life in the location where he was as he
was only with his bodyguards and could be attacked by Machar’s
loyalist forces in Guit area.
However, Gen. Manjuor, another army officer hailing from Gai’s home
town, declared his allegiance to Gai, and claimed he joined Gai group
in support of President Kiir to defend the country.
“What I want to tell you the whole of Guit county is for peace. We
support the peace under President Salva Kiir and his deputy Taban Deng
Gai,” he said.
The declaration came as the SPLA Chief of General Staff, Paul Malong
Awan flew to Guit county with some senior officers including SPLA
spokesperson, Brigadier Gen. Lul Ruai Koang.
The group claimed they have defected from the SPLA-IO to President
Kiir’s SPLA with 11,000 troops currently allegedly stationed in Guit
area, waiting for full integrations into the SPLA under the command of
President Kiir.
However, Major Weirial Puok Baluang, press secretary for the
opposition’s appointed governor of Unity state, has dismissed as
“propaganda” the alleged number of troops that defected to President
Kiir for integration.
He said the three Generals only defected with the total of 80
soldiers, describing the claim as “white lies” from desperate people
in need of cash money from the regime of Juba.
(ST)
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Kind regards,
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22 August 07:23, by jur_likang_a_ likan’g
Just see how these people are!! Are they real human beings. Why
did you go to the bush in the first place? Just to kill and rob. Mark
you you are going into lion’s den. One by one will perish. Taban is
being used like honey from the comb. Leave those with objectives go on
with the torch of liberation of the country and people from
totalitarianism. Yesterday was a turn of Mayom and today is Guit.
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