Machar spokesman James Gatdet had ‘strange feeling’ of Yau Yau’s defection to SPLM-IO

JUBA – South Sudan opposition politician James Gatdet Dak who is also the spokesman of the country’s First Vice President Riek Mahar has revealed that he was suspicious of Gen. David Yau Yau’s defection to the SPLM-IO earlier this month.

Yau Yau who last served in the unity government as a member of parliament on April 1, 2024, announced his defection from the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) faction under President Salva Kiir Mayardit to the main armed opposition SPLM-IO under Machar.

Speaking during his declaration, Yau Yau accused the SPLM party under President Kiir of ruining the country’s economy and failing to resolve tribal conflicts that have plagued the country since it gained independence from Sudan.

He particularly pointed to the situation in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA), his home-area, which has seen one of the most relentless insecurities in the world’s youngest country as armed youth from that area continue to engage in cross-border conflicts with neighboring Jonglei.

But today, Yau Yau announced his defection yet again from the SPLM-IO back to the SPLM and said he has been persuaded by his community, who he said were not happy about his April 1 decision, to return to the SPLM.

He emphasized that he harbors no ill will towards the SPLM-IO but declared his allegiance to the SPLM party led by President Salva Kiir Mayardit.

“Yes, it is true. The reason why I came here is that I was coming with the new chief administrator, and I made the decision to announce my return to the SPLM party from here, among my people who have asked me to reconsider my decision of joining the SPLM-IO,” he told Sudans Post from Pibor today.

“I don’t have any problem with anyone, and I don’t have any problem with the SPLM-IO. I wish them well in their pursuit of politics, but from now onward, I am a member of the mother SPLM party led by H.E President Salva Kiir Mayardit,” he added.

But in a brief social media message, James Gatdet said he was hesitance of congratulating Yau Yau when he first declared his allegiance to the SPLM, saying he had “a strange feeling” about what made him join the SPLM-IO.

“I had wanted to congratulate him (David Yau Yau) on joining the SPLM-IO this month, but I had a strange feeling like something was telling me NOT to congratulate him yet. So, I never wrote a congratulatory message,” he said in the brief message.