James Kok Ruea urges SPLM-IO politicians to boycott Machar

JUBA – South Sudan’s former humanitarian affairs minister and former member of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) led by First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny, James Kok Ruea has urged the group’s members to boycott the Machar-led movement and join President Salva Kiir.

This comes less than one month after James Kok disowned the SPLM-IO to return to the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), the ruling SPLM faction led by President Kiir, after accusing the opposition leader of single-handedly running the affairs of the opposition movement.

Speaking to reporters following a meeting with President Salva Kiir Mayardit on Wednesday evening, James Kok urged all members of the SPLM-IO to abandon the group and join the SPLM faction led by President Salva Kiir Mayardit to purposely work for the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement.

“I call upon those that are still under the SPLM-IO of Dr. Riek Machar and the holdout groups to come and join H.E President Salva Kiir Mayardit, the President of the Republic of South Sudan, to work collectively for peace and prosperity of the nation,” he said.

James further “called upon those that are still holding arms against the government to put them down and join hands for the stability of the Nation to pave way for the elections in 2023.”