Emmanuel Mandella
Africa-Press – South-Sudan. The Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) Brigade Two in Western Equatoria State defected to the SSPDF, citing disorganization in the opposition camp.
Addressing the media on Friday at Maridi army training centre, Col. Christopher Gume, the deputy commander of the SPLA-IO forces, said they joined SSDPF on free condition.
“We agreed not to join SSPDF because SPLM-IO under the leadership of first Vice President and his governor Alfred Futuyo are not ready to give peace to the people of South Sudan and Western Equatoria State due to lack of good objectives,” Gume claimed.
He added that lack of proper military command and the inability to deal with the threats of the Ambororo nomads among the communities had also convinced them to switch camps.
Gume accused Futuyo of doing things contrary to the reasons why they took arms against the government.
“At first I want to discourage the propaganda circulating on social media that the deputy governor sent his bodyguards to attack SPLA-IO barrack at James Diko Boma, nothing happened like that,” he said.
Gume dismissed the allegations that WES deputy governor Dr Kennedy Gaaniko had sent forces to break the SPLA-IO store prior to their defection.
“On our way to surrender ourselves to SSPDF in Gangura Payam, we found a tractor of a Darfur man then we took it but it was not enough for us,” he said.
“We saw a car coming we stopped it, and found the captain of Deputy Governor and two soldiers who went to buy charcoal, then we ordered them to drive us to Gangura. We were many while they were only three. How could they walk away with the number of guns we are seeing on social media?” Gume argued.
Meanwhile, former head of SPLA-IO Brigade 2 Brig. Gen.Alex Gasi denied reports that they exchanged fire with the soldiers who defected to SSPDF.
“I would like our politicians to play smart politics of development not politics of instigating violence that can lead to the loss of life,” he said.
Gasi appealed to colleagues still in the bush to join the government to protect the civil population of this great country.
The acting Division 6 Commander in Western Equatoria State Maj. Gen. James Akech welcomed the move taken by the forces to join SSPDF.
“Our team in Gangura received the forces of IO, after they voluntarily agreed to join us. I want to tell the public that SSPDF is not for war but for peace,” he said.
“The SSPDF cannot conduct mobilization to attack SPLA-IO in Western Equatoria State under my watch. If anyone has his own problem between SSPDF or SPLA-IO it should be solved amicably as you can see how our brothers decided to join SSPDF freely,” he stated.
On August 16, the SPLA-IO spokesperson in Western Equatoria State issued a statement accusing Deputy Governor Dr Kennedy Gaaniko of sending forces to the place called James Diko One, which serves as SPLA-IO cantonment site to break the military store of SPLA-IO and looted eight AK 47, one PKM and one RBG.
However, both deputy governor’s office and SPLA-IO Brigade 2 commander at James Diko have dismissed the allegations, terming it as cheap propaganda from both soldiers and politicians of SPLM IO in the state.
Source: The City Review South Sudan
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