Africa-Press – South-Sudan. The South Sudan United Front/Army (SSUF/A) chapter in Egypt has said over 1,500 members of the National Salvation Front (NAS) led by Gen. Thomas Cirilo have joined them.
The Spokesperson of SSUF/A, Thiep Tiek Arou, in Egypt and the Middle East, said the group was led by Lt Gen Richard Lokose Loteka, who declared their defection on January 28, 2022.
“South Sudan United Front Army in Egypt and the Middle East Chapter under the leadership of Chairman Paulino Akot would like to convey our sincere heartfelt appreciation and support to our new senior members from the NAS party led by comrade Lt. General Richard Lokose Loteka and his 1500 members who defected from the NAS party this evening, January 28, 2022,” he said.
“They joined the South Sudan United Front/Army under the leadership of our visionary commander in chief, Paul Malong Awan Anei, who believed in the vision, ideology, and intellectual thesis of the United Front of South Sudan.”
The head of the splinter group, Lt Gen Richard Lokole Loteka, said in a statement seen by the City Review that they were joining SSUF/A for the betterment of South Sudanese.
“We are announcing officially (our breaking away) from NAS and joining SSUF/A with all our forces fighting men and women,” read the statement.
Loteka stated that they were eager to create harmony among the South Sudanese 64 tribes, promoting national unity, tolerance, and acceptance.
“I call upon all our officers, men and women, to adhere to these orders.” We are looking forward to working with your highly esteemed self, and command and waiting for your further directives and orders, ” he said.
The SSUF/A deputy military spokesperson, Maj. Philip Deng Kuol Nguot confirmed the defection to their forces.
“We have confirmed and welcomed the massive defections of NAS members in the Arab Republic of Egypt to SSUF/A under the wise leadership of Gen. Paul Malong Awan. They were already being received by our chapter in Cairo,” Maj Nguot said.
“You know, their joining us is a testament to the mighty SSUF/A movement’s tenacity, zeal, and courage in changing the trajectory on which our beloved country has been revolving. That boldest decision taken by them will also encourage SSUF/A (to have) a hope of fighting for the fundamental rights of the South Sudanese and bringing back the very lasting peace in South Sudan.”
Amnesty call
Weeks ago President Salva Kiir called on all the rebels to observe the ceasefire and promised the government’s commitment to the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
He made the statement during a meeting to discuss the development with vice presidents Dr James Wani Igga, Rebecca Nyandeng de Mabior, and Taban Deng Gai, as well as the speaker of the Reconstituted Transitional National Legislative Assembly (R-TNLA), Jemma Nunu Kumba.
The meeting discussed the “general political, economic, and security situation of the country,” with particular attention to western and central Equatoria and the implementation of R-ARCSS and how to speed up its implementation.
“The President re-affirmed his commitment to fast-tracking the ongoing implementation of the Revitalised Peace Agreement and has urged the rebel groups to observe the ceasefire,” said James Deng Wal, the Executive Director in the Office of the President.
NAS claims
On Thursday last week, NAS accused SSPDF of occasionally attacking their positions through Katigiri and Loka west, but SSPDF denied this.
“On January 18, 2022, the SSPDF again attacked the NAS position in Wuji, Kupera, in Lainya County. Similarly, the SSPDF incurred heavy losses both in lives and materials, ” the statement read in part.
On August 17, 2021, the government released four people who were suspected to be members of the National Salvation Front (NAS) after spending months in the hands of the SSPDF in Lainya County.
Rome talks
SSUF/A and Real SPLM are expected to resume talks with the government under the mediation of the community of Sant’Egidio soon.
In mid-December, 2021, Real SPLM, led by Pagan Amum, and SSUF/A, led by Paul Malong attended a workshop with government delegates in Nairobi, Kenya.
The meeting resolved that the two movements would be included in the ceasefire monitoring mechanism in March 2022. But the National Salvation Front, led by Thomas Cirilo, stood their ground by not joining the talks, claiming that there was no sustainable peace.
On Wednesday, the Ceasefire Transitional Security Arrangement Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM) promised to support the Rome talks for a lasting solution to be reached.
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