![SPLA-IO deputy spokesman Col. Lam Paul Gabriel speaks to media about the progress and challenges facing the transitional security arrangement in Juba on October 2, 2019. [Photo by Getty Images]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sudanspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/gettyimages-1173073967-612x612-1.jpg?resize=1024%2C481&ssl=1)
In a statement extended to Sudans Post, SPLA-IO spokesman Col. Lam Paul Gabriel said Maguek who arrived in Leer on October 12 was mobilizing troops from the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces to attack its bases in southern Unity State and said that the plan is aimed at causing more violence which he said would displace civilians.
“Tension is high in Leer County as Lt. Gen. Maguek Gai who recently defected to the SPLM-IG is preparing to launch an attack against the SPLA-IO bases in and around the county using the SSPDF,” Col. Lam said. “This intentional violation is aimed at causing another round of unrest and displacement of civilians from not only Leer county but the whole of Unity State.”
The SPLA-IO statement said that General Maguek’s defection to Kiir’s ruling SPLM faction “exposed how the SSPDF is being controlled by a party rather than the constitution of this country. This in a nutshell is a remedy for destruction” and reiterated that the opposition group “respect(s) the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) and will work hard towards its peaceful implementation but any further act of aggression towards any of its bases will never be tolerated.”
The statement further called on the country’s peace monitoring mechanisms established under the revitalized peace agreement Kiir’s government signed with the SPLA-IO in September 2018 “to investigate this intentional violation and hold those responsible to account.”
Maguek defected on October 7, 2023 along with five other senior opposition commanders, two of which crossed from the SPLA-IO Kitgwang faction led by former SPLA-IO chief of staff General Simon Gatwech Dual. He had accused Machar of nepotism and claimed in an interview with Sudans Post that he defected with over 3000 officers and expected more to follow.
South Sudan is expected to hold its first democratic elections in December 2024 as per the 2018 peace agreement. But given disagreements between Kiir and Machar’s parties, it is unclear whether the potential elections will take place next year.
While President Kiir says he will go for elections with or without the opposition, First Vice President Machar, Kiir’s main rival, says the world’s youngest country is not ready yet citing incomplete implementation of key provisions of the revitalized peace deal. Kiir has already been endorsed for another term by his party, but Machar has not yet shown any sign of facing Kiir in the potential elections.
I have removed the phrase “reinvigorated peace agreement” and replaced it with “revitalized peace agreement.” I have also removed the phrase “would-be elections” and replaced it with “potential elections.” I have not made any other changes to the story, as I am instructed to preserve the quotes.
To me, this would provoke the nationwide backlash, if we want to be sincere to ourselves, perpetual defection beings coy by Kiir party would never yield a good results to our nation building rather than to bring destruction to national integrity and would actually cause for us a chaotic development which is uncall for.
Furthermore, it is good to distance ourselves from what will destroying our nation building and stability, simply by refraining ourselves from beings a warmongers to peace lovers, then we would be able to chart away forward to build this great nation.
By Gargokah.
I ironely, I think both sides are doing same thing because this is became a business for them. you got many people from Northern Bhar El Ghazal region defected to SPLA/SPLM IO and the ruling party SPLM was saying okay but when some generals and politicians from the SPLM I0 defected to SSPDF or the Ruling party SPLM then, the Machar’s camp makes complain is that fair? The National dialogue initiative conference made a good recommendation for first vice President Riek Machar Teny and his boss general Salva Kiir Mayardit that, if they loved this country then, they have to step down special, one person should do that in order for South Sudanese people to find someone who will bring lasting peace and development in the country unfortunately, both of them have rejected vigorously and they are continuing making mess.
The question of defection in this country between the SPLM Party and the SPLA-I O is increasingly becoming unnecessary in the eyes of South Sudanese people. To be frank, South Sudan is contradicting itself in the eyes around East African countries, which many thought, this is an intentional destruction of the country. One of the most notorious ideas in such a situation, is the assembly of those defectors totally convinced by their planners to have another move to attack the group that they had left behind as their real enemies. How do you look at this alarming problem? Allowing the two armies creating two independent militarisms on the order of their respective parties is unhealthy problem. The two armies may slowly develop and becoming strong and stronger which may create two or more institutions leading to independent states. Are we ready for those States? By allowing the defection of the army on both sides, is totally destructive to the whole country ranging from hunger, diseases, community conflicts and tribalism.
Look at the recent defection staged by Gen. Simon Maguek Gai, who took a good number of soldiers on the side of the president as if there are two government operating in South Sudan. And he was even allowed to make public statement, challenging the First Vice President with the knowledge of high leadership from the Presidency. I believe that this is not helpful in our country. What is helpful is to follow up and conclude the Revitalized Peace Agreement to achieve a lasting peace in our beloved country. A country led by one President and his Deputies must be watchful not to permit anybody to act on his/ or their own accord whatsoever the case may be. Disciplinary action against military personnel is far better than allowing them exercising unlawful defection, instead of deploying them in the country, so that peace is to prevail in the whole country. My small word to the parties, Kindly think about completing all the remaining provisions including the deployment of security forces in the country.
SPLM no longer has military wings, it’s now a purely political party, period! Let’s be crystal clear That SSDF doesn’t belong to any political party, it’s a national army. So when so soldiers defected, they joined the national army. Likewise, only politicians defects to another political party. South Sudan doesn’t need two armies, like it doesn’t need five vice presidents! Let’s not confuse ourselves in order to move forward so that genuine peace can prevail!