Africa-Press – South-Sudan. At least four military officers belonging to the main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA-IO) are being held after being accused of plotting to defect to South Sudan United Front faction under Dickson Gatluak.
Speaking to Sudans Post, a family member who refused to be named said his brother, Thai Gattiek Ziaydoar – a SPLA-IO officer – is among four officers arrested after claims on social media by Dickson Gatluak’s group that they have defected from the SPLA-IO and joined them.
“Thai is my brother and is a member of the SPLM-IO and has no intention to defect anywhere. But the problem occurred when Dickson Gatluak and his men wrote his name as a part of a list of people, they claimed to have defected from the SPLM-IO,” he said.
“This has caused suspicion against Thai from his colleagues and his commanders in the SPLA-IO and now they are being detained. He has not defected, and he has not intention to do so. He is being detained along with three others that I cannot name because I cannot speak for them,” the family source added.
The three other officers are identified as Maj. Gen. Puok Ngueny Koh, Maj. Gen. Kew Kuol Riek, and Guong Kew.
But in a statement extended to Sudans Post this morning, the SSUF/A faction led by Gatluak claimed that the officers were detained by SPLA-IO area commander because they had decided to switch side from the main armed opposition to the Gatluak-led SSUF/A faction.
The statement urged the Sant’Egidio Catholic Community and CTSAMVM to pressure the SPLA-IO to release the detained officers immediately.
“We call on the SPLM/A-IO to immediately release our detained officers to help defuse the escalating situation in Unity State,” reads the statement signed by SSUF/A military spokesman Col. Philip Deng.
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