SPLA-IO commander joins SSPDF, berates Machar for ‘poor’ leadership

JUBA – A South Sudan opposition military commander has declared his intention to join the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) saying First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny has performed poorly over the cause of his SPLM-IO leadership.

In a statement, Brig. Gen. David Thuok Yien Leu said he is now switching side to join General James Khor Chuol who defected in August to join the SSPDF under President Salva Kiir Mayardit after accusing Machar of nepotism.

“With a great pleasure I would like to take this opportunity to inform nation that, the above-under line subject has fully declaredly that, I defected from the leadership of Dr. Riek Machar Teny to the mother government under presidency of H.E Salva Kiir Mayardit,” Brig. Gen. Thuok said in a statement extended to Sudans Post.

“I am now under the command of Maj. Gen. James Khor Chuol Giet the current senior military officer who is now under the leadership of H.E Salva Kiir Mayardit the President of Republic of South Sudan,” he added.

He added that “the administration of Dr. Riek Machar Teny is very poor and works with segregation and practice division of people in tribal basis,” and also said people have been dying “since 1991 after Dr. Riek Machar Teny and he has seen no change until date of today and he say he do not want the suffering to repeat itself once again.”

He further added that “children remain orphans and women live as widowers and many lost their properties, families all fall apart this let my defection to rejoin the government.”