Machar’s group downplays defection of senior commander

JUBA – South Sudan’s main armed opposition group, SPLA-IO, has downplayed this week’s defection of a senior opposition commander who said he was defecting with thousands of troops in Western Equatoria state.

On Tuesday, General James Nando who previously commander SPLA-IO forces in the opposition Division 9B told Sudans Post in Juba that he defected from Machar, accusing the main armed opposition group of attacking him which he said would have severe consequences should it continue.

“Well I have in fact left the [SPLA] IO, but I haven’t attacked as you are quoting those reports,” General Nando told Sudans Post on phone from Juba on Tuesday afternoon. “

Since I declared my intention to leave the SPLA-IO, I have been in Juba and have not ordered my troops to attack the SPLA-IO forces in Western Equatoria,” the opposition commander added.

Speaking to Sudans Post this evening, Brigadier General John Sunday Martin, the SPLA-IO deputy commander for the group’s sector six said the defection of General Nando does not affect the military position of the group because he has no forces.

“First of all he has no forces and that is why his defection will not affect the SPLA-IO,” General Martin said. “So, I don’t actually know why some people are giving much attention to this defection.”

General Martin further accused unnamed South Sudan politicians of persuading General Nando to defect from the SPLA-IO saying they want to destabilize the government of the SPLM-IO appointed governor of Western Equatoria state.

“There are some who are supporting General Nando. Those who persuaded him to defect and leave the SPLA-IO are some politicians in Juba who hails from Azande area and who want to undermine the government of Governor Alfred Futiyo,” he said.

The SPLM-IO has been suffering from high-level defection since the beginning of this year.  Some senior army commanders and heavy weights politicians have declared their intention to leave the main armed opposition group.

Likewise, some SSPDF commanders and government politicians have also defected to join Machar, triggering regional call for end to defection which it said jeopardize efforts to realize peace implementation.