Army commander recruiting in Unity State – locals  

JUBA, JUNE 25, 2023 (SUDANS POST) – South Sudan army commander General Tito Biel Wich who defected from the main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) in 2022 is forcefully recruiting civilians in Unity State’s Mayom County.

Speaking to Sudans Post, several local residents in Mankien and Riak Payam said General Biel who has been in the area since his defection last year has been recruiting youth into the so-called Jok Nyang Declaration since late April.

“This recruitment is not new, but General  Biel has been recruiting young men into his force since April of this year and the motives behind this is not known. I am not sure if this is taking place with the knowledge of the army command in Juba or not,” one local activist told Sudans Post yesterday.

A security source in Mayom said prominent local army commanders led by Major-General Manyuat Manydhol were sent by Governor Joseph Manytuil to visit the recruits earlier this month, suggesting a bigger picture for the recruitment.

“General Manyat Nyaturoah and many others were in Mankien Payam. They proceeded to Buoth where the recruits are being trained. What I heard is that they were sent from Bentiu by the governor, and this means they (national authorities) must have knowledge about it,” the source said.

If true, the recruitment will be a major violation to the revitalized peace agreement which prohibits signatories to recruitment of forces. It also violates the country’s transitional constitution which gives citizen the choice to join the organized forces.