20 SPLM-IO members in Unity State join Kiir

BENTIU, OCTOBER 31, 2023 (SUDANS POST) – At least twenty members belonging to the main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) led by First Vice President Riek Machar have defected and joined the ruling SPLM faction under President Salva Kiir.

Speaking to Sudans Post yesterday Monday, leader of the group James Koat Biem said they joined from inside the Bentiu IDP camp in Rubkona and announced their intention to defect during a meeting at the SPLM Secretariat in Bentiu town.

He said they were welcomed by the deputy speaker of Unity State parliament James Gatluak Dor who is also the deputy chairperson of the SPLM faction in Unity State and described their defection as a “bold decision” and “a significant step” towards peace and stability in Unity State.

“Twenty of us joined SPLM at the secretariat in Unity State and we were congratulated by SPLM leaders who welcomed us back to the SPLM party under the leadership of President Salva Kiir Mayardit,” he told a Sudans Post reporter.

According to Koat, their defection is very important and significant to what he referred to as a “fact” that the SPLM party will usher in peace and work for the people’s aspirations in the world’s youngest country.

Meanwhile the leader of the SPLM Youth League in Mayendit County Gatluak Giel Malual confirmed that they received twenty former opposition members from the Machar-led group and said it was a historic moment for the SPLM in his county.

“We are proud of you, our comrades, and together we will make the SPLM great. We are proud to have you in our ranks and together we will continue adding blocks to our nation,” Giel said.

“Many of the 20 people who defected from SPLM-IO are youths of them, and young people from across the 13 Payams of Mayendit County,” he added, urging the defectors not to have second thoughts on their decision to join the group.

For his part, James Gattuor, SPLM-IO chairperson in Mayendit County, said they were not aware of any defection from their group saying that those who defected are from the humanitarian staff and said it is up to them to join any political organization.

“We are not aware of 20 people but what I know they are humanitarian staff not members of SPLM-IO who defected from us to SPLM-IG,” he said.