Costello Garang accuses Gen. Buay of ‘impersonating’ his group

JUBA — South Sudan’s Patriotic Movement/Army (SSPM/A) led by presidential envoy on presidency affairs Dr. Costello Garang Ring has accused General Stephen Buay Rolnyang of ‘impersonating’ his group’s name after the former army commander launched a rebel movement with a similar name.

In a statement on Thursday, General Stephen Buay formed a rebel body to fight President Salva Kiir Mayardit’s government. He called the new rebel group ‘South Sudan Patriotic Movement/Army (SSPM/A)’, the same name as Ring’s group.

In a statement to Sudans Post on Thursday evening, Stephen Lual, the spokesman of Dr. Costello’s group said they condemn the use of their party’s name by General Stephen Buay Rolnyang and said the use of similar name is an illegal activity that he said “is against the law.”

“The use of the name and logo of our movement by General Stephen Buay Rolnyang is a clear violation of the law because General Stephen Buay is impersonating our party called South Sudan Patriotic Movement/Army (SSPM/Army),” Lual said in the statement to Sudans Post.

The senior opposition official further threatened that his group will launch legal action against Buay for ‘stealing’ his group’s name which he said is punishable as per the South Sudan Political Parties’ Act of 2012.

“What he did is beyond doubt a clear violation of the law, which was evident in the use of our party’s name in an illegal manner and we will take legal proceedings if he don’t change the name of his group,” he added.