WANGKUARBII – 476 fighters from South Sudan United Front (SSUF) have defected to the armed opposition faction (SPLA-IO), the fifth infantry division of the movement said on Wednesday.
The SPLA-IO, in a statement, announced that force’s being commanded by Brigadier General Tut Ruach Gith and his deputies safely and peacefully arrived Wangkuarbii area of Upper Nile State.
The statement also identified the other defectors as deputy commander, Col. Tethloach Gatluak Bomach, Col. Jiath Bandak Lual Balok and Col. Abzal Assen Adem Mahamed, among others.
“We would like to inform the general public that today in Wangkuarbii, we had received the recently defected forces of four hundred and seventy six (476 ) from SSUF to SPLA-IO under able leadership of HE Dr. Riek Machar Teny Dhurghon,” partly read a statement from the office of the director for information and communication five (5th) infantry division of the armed opposition.
The SPLA-IO said it remains open to men and women in uniform wishing to join the movement.
Sudans Post could, however, not independently verify the authenticity of the statement.
