Opposition commander who abandoned Machar for Kiir shot dead

JUBA – A senior member of the main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) who defected to South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) in February has been shot dead in Mayom County of Unity State in what local authorities say is a revenge attack.

Brig. Gen. Kapnyang Pech, a member of the SPLA-IO Joknyang declaration led by Gen. Tito Biel Wich who defected from the SPLA-IO last year to join the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces under President Salva Kiir Mayardit was killed at a local market in Mankien on Monday evening, according to local authorities.

“Brig. Gen. Kapyang Pech from SPLM-IO Joknyang of Tito Biel was killed on Sunday night at Mankien Payam. He was killed in the evening at a market in Mankien and none of the killers have been arrested,” Mayom County Executive Director Isaac Gatdet Gany Madut told Sudans Post this morning.

The senior local official further said the victim’s families have a revenge story with the family of the perpetrators.

“These people they have a long feud involving families of the people involved in this quarrel and the government is still investigating,” he added.