Africa-Press – South-Sudan. Major General Jackson Wisely Eliaza and over 400 soldiers have dumped the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) in South Sudan’s Western Equatoria State in a wave of military defections which rocked the opposition armed group since March 2025.
Wisely, along with three senior officers and 400 soldiers, has defected from SPLA-IO to join the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) in a move reportedly facilitated by Daniel Badagbu Rimbasa, the Acting Governor of Western Equatoria State.
The defectors, formerly part of SPLA-IO Division 9A, Sector 6 in Greater Mundri, include prominent figures Brigadier General James Garkhoth Mathiang, Brigadier General Hilary Juma Forjallah, and Brigadier General Elikana Magyira Confuse.
In a statement issued by the Deputy Governor’s office, General Wisely outlined the reasons for the defection, emphasising a collective desire for peace and progress.
“We want a secure environment where communities can thrive, children can attend school, and people can live without fear,” he said.
The group expressed regrets and criticised the exploitation of youth for political gains, noting that continued rebellion has brought “unrewarded suffering” to citizens. Mr Wisely highlighted the abandonment by SPLA-IO leadership, despite past sacrifices, including critical support for Dr. Riek Machar in 2016.
Since 2018, the defectors claimed that they have cooperated peacefully with the SSPDF, leading them to question the need for ongoing conflict.
Mr Wesley called on the remaining SPLA-IO soldiers to abandon the rebellion and join the path of peace, making reference to the SSPDF. “Whether you are a Major General or not, continued fighting only brings more suffering. Join us to rebuild our country,” he urged.
Meanwhile, the Acting Governor, who assumed his responsibilities after the relive of Governor Alfred Futuyo by President Salva Kiir early this year, hailed the defection as a milestone for Greater Mundri and Western Equatoria at large.
Mr Badagbu pledged to continue fostering dialogue and cooperation to ensure lasting peace amid escalating tensions within the state and across South Sudan.
In April, Oyet Nathaniel Pierino, the Deputy Chairman of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO), accused President Kiir of persecuting opposition figures, including those in the military.
This, Mr Oyet claimed, culminated into mass exodus of political and military officers from the SPLA-M/A-IO to the SSPDF in fear for their safety, a sentiment echoed by Col. Lam Paul Gabriel, the Spokesperson of SPLA-IO.
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