Africa-Press – South-Sudan. At least 2,500 forces aligned with the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO) have officially defected to the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In-Government (SPLM-IG) following a declaration ceremony held Thursday morning in Pading, the headquarters of Nyirol County in South Sudan’s Jonglei state.
The forces drawn from the army, police, and other organised units arrived from five different locations within Nyirol County: Pading, Keth, Guer, Wenyal, and Kelech.
The group was led by senior commanders, including Maj. Gen. James Tut Reak Lony, Brig. Gen. James Maguon Tharjiath Majak of the police, and Col. Gatbuol Pual Turuk.
According to Nyirol County Commissioner James Bol Makuei, the defecting forces have pledged full loyalty to President Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit and expressed readiness to be integrated into the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF). Makuei said their move reflects a growing desire for lasting peace and unity in South Sudan.
“This force that has joined hands today from the cantonment area in Puolturuk represents a brigade consisting of three battalions, and when you look at the number, there are 2,500 who have declared their allegiance to SPLM-IG,” Makuei said.
He added that the group includes personnel from various organised units.
“The force we received today is comprised of different institutions — police, army, CID, and others. We appreciate them for this decision, and we need to make sure we have one force, one governor, and one president,” he stated.
Makuei appealed to the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen. Paul Nang Majok, to quickly confirm the declaration and initiate the integration of the defectors into the SSPDF and other organised forces.
“I’m calling on the CDF to quickly confirm and reconstitute them into the SSPDF and also to the police, to ensure they are equipped like other national forces. The civil population in Nyirol has also declared their support for the SPLM-IG,” Makuei added.
Maj. Gen. James Tut Reak Lony and other commanders reiterated their commitment to work closely with Commissioner Makuei and support his administration “in all matters necessary” to consolidate peace and stability in Nyirol County.
Local authorities welcomed the development, describing it as a significant step toward reducing political and military tensions in a region that has long experienced instability linked to national-level political divisions.
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