Over 200 government forces join rebel movement, official claims
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January 9, 2017 (BENTIU) – Major defections have hit the South
Sudanese army (SPLA) in Unity State after dozens of its forces
reportedly joined the armed opposition allied to first Vice-President,
Riek Machar in the north of the state.
JPEG - 85 kb
SPLA forces in Wau town on May 16; 2016 (ST Photo)
In a statement, the armed opposition spokesperson, Col. William Deng,
claimed 250 soldiers defected from Mayom county, northwest of Bentiu
town.
Those who defected, he said, were commanded by Col. Simon Mayiel
Kulang from brigade 12, division 3 and reported at Panakuach, north of
Unity state.
“These huge forces defected with 11 PKM, seven RPGs and a vehicle
mounted with enough ammunition,” he said in a statement extended to
Sudan Tribune.
The defectors, Deng further said, were received by their sector two
commander, Lt. General Maguek Gai Majak at the armed opposition base
in Panakuach.
The anticipated the numbers of those who defected to steadily rise with time.
“At least 250 soldiers defected to us yesterday [Sunday] and we have
welcomed them to division 4 headquarters in the area,” the rebel
official said.
“The number of the [pro-government] soldiers may be more than that.
But this is a preliminary report I received from the ground,” he
further told Sudan Tribune.
Meanwhile, Kulang accused the Juba government of allegedly practicing
tribalism and nepotism, which has forced soldiers to defect to the
rebels.
The rebel spokesperson also renewed claims the Sudanese rebels still
exist in Unity State to fight alongside forces allied to President
Salva Kiir’s soldiers.
“The regime in Juba has also maintained it close relationship with the
Sudanese rebels, including the Justice and Equality Movement or JEM
and SPLA-North that the regime has been relying on since it imposed
this war on the people of South Sudan,” further stressed the armed
opposition’s statement.
The rebel faction warned that there could be further escalation of the
current conflict should government and its allied forces continue
attacking armed opposition troops.
(ST)
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10 January 10:28, by Kush Natives
Ah ah ah ah ah trouble maker! This is a naked political of 19
century. We are in 21 century. So, defecting from Panakuach to where?
Bul,Jikeny and Leek, we finally got you! _______________
repondre message
10 January 12:47, by Uror the Great defeat fuckin kiir
wellcome to SPLA IO brother but you betray us for long time
repondre message
10 January 13:40, by barbayo
they go with objective ,
repondre message
10 January 13:49, by Ram Mi Ran
Dear compatriot, welcome to the people movement under the vision
leader his excellence C-IN-C of the SPLA-IO and chairman of the
SPLM-IO DR.Riak Machar Teny Dhurgon.
It is the right time to rescue your South Sudanese people from
illegitimate and Uneducated sultan Salva Kiir.
repondre message
10 January 15:56, by Redeemer
The numbers that have been defecting to IO since 2013 are far
more than that, what will 250 do?lets just say 500, Nyornyor will fuck
them back. But this is a pure lie, when did you IO get Panakuach back?
repondre message
10 January 16:19, by Son of Nuer
Welcome Simon Mayiel and your forces field free here in IO home
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