Ex-Malong spokeswoman who defected to Kiir rejoins rebel leader

JUBA – South Sudan United Front’s former spokeswoman Nyamach Nyang Chol who defected last year to join the ruling SPLM faction led by President Salva Kiir Mayardit has apologized for defection and returned to the rebel group, according to a letter addressed to Malong.

Ms. Chol, a former employee of the ministry of foreign affairs who had defected to join Malong following the formation of the rebel movement in 2018, resigned on April 5 2021 along with at least five other senior officials of the SSUF.

A month later, she and the five officials declare their intention to join President Kiir’s ruling party in order to “return home [and] be part of the nation building and peace implementation.”

In a letter directed to Malong on August 8, 2022, Ms. Chol apologized to the rebel leader “for my act of betrayal last year April, 2021. Whether it was deliberate or not, no excuse can justify the breach of the trust you bestowed upon me within your office and the entire South Sudan United Front/Army Movement. I take full responsibility for the impulsiveness that went against my duty.”

She asked Malong to pardon “and allow me to return to the ranks and files of the movement based on your Order Ref: SSUF/O0C/CIC/32.A.1, Dated: 23/12/2020, ‘Order to pardon SSUF/A members who left and wish to come back.’”

The former diplomat said she “also learnt through my experience that the Juba regime is still full of weak institutions ran by manipulators, kleptocrats and profiteers of the ongoing instability, they do not have the best interest of the citizens at heart nor for peace to come anytime soon as they continue to feed off the crisis.

“I’ am returning to SSUF/A under your able leadership as you remain our only hope with the interest of the youth and the marginalized at heart, we believe you are the rightful able leader to lead us into a peaceful, prosperous, and developed South Sudan very soon.

“You have empowered so many youths into leadership, entrepreneurship and never blocked them from being active in nation building and decision making just like myself who will remain indebted with gratitude for the training and grooming me into leadership and for that I will never let that go in vain and will continue to work with you to achieve SSUF/A manifesto, elections and beyond till we achieve good governance that will bring the suffering of our people to an end.

“Being a victim who has managed to escape the hostility and harsh restriction some political returnees were in and leaving many under inhumane conditions, I can assure you as a survivor that I come back wiser and stronger, if we move past this my loyalty will only remain with you as the Chairman and C-in-C of SSUF/A Movement.”