Ex-deputy defense minister David Yau Yau abandons Kiir, Joins Machar

JUBA – South Sudan’s former Deputy Minister of Defense, Gen. David Yau Yau, has announced his defection from President Salva Kiir Mayardit’s ruling SPLM-IG and declared his allegiance to the main armed opposition SPLM-IO led by First Vice President Riek Machar.

Speaking during a press conference held at the SPLM-IO General Secretariat in Juba on Monday, Yau Yau cited the need to secure the country as the reason for his decision. His group, the Cobra faction, signed a peace agreement with Kiir’s government in 2014, ending a four-year civil war in Jonglei State.

“After deep reflections and soul-searching on the prevailing political and transitional processes and the need to secure the future of the Republic of South Sudan and the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA), we have decided to tender our resignation from the SPLM-IG/ITGoNU with effect from April 1, 2024,” Yau Yau said.

He highlighted the importance of the 2014 Agreement in ending years of political violence in South Sudan, particularly in Jonglei State. However, he emphasized grievances stemming from the 2010 general elections, alleging the SPLM used state forces to manipulate results, leading to widespread violence in Jonglei.

“The political violence that erupted after 2010 elections was rooted in the political, social and economic structures of the society and the government of Southern Sudan. During the 2010 general elections, the SPLM decided to use the SPLA and other organized forces in Jonglei state to rig the elections, the leaders of SSDM were intimidated, beaten, harassed, and jailed,” he said.

“This led to the political violence in Jonglei state leading to widespread systematic killing and destructions of property and livelihood of citizens of Greater Pibor. There was no any transitional justice or any efforts to alleviate the humanitarian situation of the people affected by the war,” he added.

Yau Yau expressed disappointment with the lack of full implementation of his agreement with the government and subsequent peace accords, blaming a lack of political will by the ruling SPLM party.

He criticized the SPLM-led administration for governance failures, tribalism, and economic mismanagement.

“There has been a lack of political will on the side of the government of South Sudan to implement the May 9 Agreement and other agreements and this is affecting the lives and prospect for peace and development in the republic of South Sudan. “We cannot now stand by and watch the country descents into abyss,” he said.

“SPLM has failed to deliver on the promises for south Sudan’s independence. Since independence the condition of living in South Sudan has deteriorated even worse than when we were in the old Sudan. This has left our citizen questioning the purpose of the struggle for the independence of South Sudan. The SPLM has failed to govern and provide security throughout the country,” he added.

The former deputy defense minister who was also the first Chief Administrator of the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) said that the Greater Pibor area remains impoverished and stressed the need for improved living conditions.

“GPAA today, remains one of the most impoverished, isolated and underdeveloped communities in South Sudan with no any government services or infrastructure. The people of South Sudan deserve better lives anchored on peace, justice, and prosperity,” Yau Yau declared.

He accused the SPLM-IG of perpetuating inequality, tribalism, and dictatorship, highlighting endemic corruption and poverty as major challenges. He reaffirmed his commitment to the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) and called for a peaceful and democratic transition.

Yau Yau clarified that his “neither affects the status of Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) as such has become part and parcel of the transitional constitution of the republic of South Sudan (as amended, 2011) nor the South Sudan Defense Forces who have been integrated into the SSPDF.”

The former deputy defense minister’s defection comes several months after he was removed from the parliament and the SPLM National Liberation Council by President Salva Kiir. He had welcomed the decision by the president as a normal procedure.

“There is nothing happening, it is just a government policy of doing the work and it is not the first time for such a reshuffle to happen,” he told Sudans Post following is October 2023 dismissal. “So, I feel it is normal because it is not the first time to happen. Reshuffle, to be appointed, be relieved. It is not the first time to experience it and there is nothing wrong in it and it is just a normal policy of the government operation.”

His defection will likely be a significant blow to President Kiir’s election bid as Yau Yau forms a strong support base in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area. His defection also comes at a sensitive time, ahead of South Sudan’s first elections since independence in 2011.