Africa-Press – South-Sudan. A former South Sudan rebel officer who had defected in 2020 to join South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) has promoted himself to the rank of lieutenant general sparking tensions in the Unity State’s capital Bentiu, several eyewitnesses said in exclusive messages to Sudans Post.
General Lok Tang, one of the then South Sudan army, SPLA, officers who defected following clashes in Juba in December 2018 was the commissioner of Rubkona County until his relieve in 2017. He defected in November 2020 to join the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces following disagreements with SPLM-IO leader Dr. Riek Machar Teny.
In a number of multiple emails to Sudans Post, eyewitnesses said Gen. Lok Tang had a disagreement with Governor Nguen Manytuil prompting him to promote himself to the rank of lieutenant general as well as promoting other civilians and junior officers who are still with him at the time of the emails.
“As I write this message, there is a problem in Bentiu because Major-General Lok Tang has promoted himself to the rank of lieutenant general after having a disagreement with Governor Nguen Manytuil who was calling off a construction of a new dike so that water do not enter the former POC in Rubkona,” one eyewitness who refused not to be named said.
With this disagreement, another eyewitness said, Gen. Lok Tang decided to wear the rank of lieutenant general and promoted other soldiers and a number of few civilians who are still with him at the time the email was sent.
“It just happened, as I write, the few soldiers and civilians are still with General Lok Tang and he is accusing the governor of working to force civilians to leave the IDP camp as the rainy season approach amid the flooding in this part of the country,” the eyewitness who also requested not to be named further added.
Phone calls to state authorities were unsuccessful, but other eyewitnesses also confirmed the development that “has since forced some of the residents of Bentiu to cross to Rubkona for safer haven this afternoon (Saturday).”
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