Africa-Press – South-Sudan. Around 100 officers belonging to the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO), have declared their intention to abandon the opposition group’s faction led by First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny accusing him of betraying the cause of the group.
In the statement extended to Sudans Post, the group of 108 officers declared their allegiance to General Simon Gatwech Dual effective today, saying the opposition commander who was the SPLA-IO military chief was fighting for the opposition cause.
“Sector 4, Division 5-Jikew Headquarter, have switched loyalty and allegiance from Dr. Riek Machar Teny Dhurgon and declared our full support, commitment, loyalty, and unequivocal allegiance to Kitguang Declaration under the Interim Chairman and Commander in Chief of the SPLM/A-IO, H.E. 1″. Lt. Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual,” they said in a statement.
“We are the SPLM/A-IO Officers whose trust has been broken and betrayed,” the statement added.
They said the revitalized peace agreement’s chapter who was supposed to be implemented in six months and before the formation of the transitional government, but then Machar was quick to join the regime in Juba leaving them in the bush.
“The R-ARCSS promised us 6 months of training and unification of forces, but Riek Machar abandoned us stranded at Jekow Containment Site for more than two years without food, medicines, and other basic life sustenance, while enjoying luxury life in Juba,” they said.
They alleged that General Simon Gatwech Dual was fired as chief of staff for standing for the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement just for Machar to regain his position.
“Riek fired the Chief of General Staff of the SPLM/A-IO for advocating for our needs and the unification of forces, arguing that the 1st. Lt. Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual should walk to Juba with his hands in the pocket leaving us stranded at cantonment site like him,” the officers said.
“We are well trained officers who defended the SPLM/A-IO for eight years, yet Riek cowardly abandoned us and entrusted his security protection in the hands of Salva Kiir Mayardit. We therefore condemned Riek Machar Teny for persistent betrayal of his forces,” they added.
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