![South Sudan's then newly removed FVP Dr. Riek Machar Teny speaks during a meeting of the SPLM-IO political bureau in Khartoum, Sudan. [Photo by SUNA]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sudanspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Riek_Machar.jpg?resize=1024%2C512&ssl=1)
JUBA, OCTOBER 20, 2023 (SUDANS POST) — South Sudan’s main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition (SPLM/SPLA-IO) has yet again suffered another loss after its military’s sector three commander Maj. Gen. Michael Wal Nyak declared his defection to President Salva Kiir Mayardit.
In a statement extended to Sudans Post today, Gen. Wal who has been a close ally of Machar in the Greater Jonglei State since outbreak of war in 2013 said the first vice president has been sidelining many from his community when it comes to military promotion and said he has switched side to the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) under Kiir.
“The SPLM/A-IO, sector three split under the command of Major General Michael Wal Nyak and the entire political wing would like to inform all comrades in uniforms … that we have officially announced the Comprehensive Declaration and switched our allegiances to Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM) and South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) under H.E. Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit,” Gen. Wal said in the statement.
“The purpose and rationale of this comprehensive declaration is triggered by myriads of concerns confronting service men and women, Lou Nuer citizens in the SPLM/A-IO compelled us to join the government. Those concerns are crystal clear to all comrades who have dedicated their time, resources in the SPLM/A-IO movement at it inception in 2013 civil wars,” he added.
“Our pressing concerns are not limited to intentional humiliation and marginalization, lack of promotion and ranks confirmation of Greater Lou Nuer sons and daughters who sacrificed their lives to serve the movement that orchestrated by Dr. Riek Machar, the Chairman of the SPLM/A-IO Movement,” he added.
General Wal’s defection constitutes a major blow to Machar who is struggling to put his group together as he is expected to face Kiir in a would-be election slated for December 2023.
On October 7, General Simon Maguek Gai, a senior SPLA-IO commander who was the group’s sector two commander in Unity State, declared his defection to Kiir’s party and the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) after accusing Machar of nepotism and failing the SPLM/A-IO.
This story is being updated!
He is the one to get the consequences since he is the one alarming peoples to defect for his redical centralisation of the party to his onw affair.
We South Sudanese know that deflection come out of frustration generated from the SPLM-IG who hold the resources of the country. These forces were graduated long time ago but they are treated equally like any forces from the Country South Sudan.these Leader of SPLM should know the behaviours Arab did they are now doing to their own people,even they are doing worse than Arabs, the Arabs gave the right of South Sudanese who were working with but they control powers from South Sudanese. Let joint the government and oppose inside the system one God knows how to give power to people of South Sudan. By the who knows we should get our own Country if is America whom God brought to rescuer us from hand of our and my Arabs from Sudan. Now prefere them better than other SouthSudanese.
The problem is not Dr. Riek but the government, you could have been integrated in to SSDF 3 Yeats ago, but due to political reason, that is why you are still isolated in defense system any way that is another Short cut for integration into SSDF.