Ex-army general and minister who defected to SPLM-IO last week meets Machar

JUBA – Major General Dr. Achol Marial, the former army commander and ex-Eastern Lakes state health minister who defected to South Sudan’s main armed opposition group, SPLM-IO, has this afternoon met the country’s First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny, the Sudans Post has been told.

Dr. Marial last week resigned from the ruling SPLM faction under President Salva Kiir and accused the South Sudanese head of state of destroying the pre-independence vision saying Machar is the new hope for the country.

Speaking to Sudans Post this afternoon, a senior government official at the office of the First Vice President said the former minister met Machar at his office and discussed the reforms and the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement signed in 2018.

“Dr. Achol Marial this afternoon met with the first vice-president H.E Dr. Riek Machar Teny and the two leaders discussed the status of the revitalized peace agreement and how to mobilize the people of South Sudan for its implementation,” the senior government official who requested not to be named has said.

Another opposition official also told Sudans Post separately that the former state minister has promised to work hard in order to mobilize people from his native Lakes state to rally them behind Machar, saying Kiir has failed the country.

“You, know because of the failures by the president to tackle the many issues that are affecting our country, there is no any choice for our people, but to rally behind the only leader in South Sudan, and I am talking about Dr. Machar, to bring the change that we are seeking now,” he said.

“So, that’s why Dr. Achol has told the Chairman and Commander-in-Chief to work hard for the country and he will bring in the people of Lakes state to rally behind our First Vice President Dr. Machar so that we can change the system that is destroying our country,” teh opposition official further added.