SPLA-IO’s Mabor Dhol dismisses ‘desperate claims’ that he defected to Machar

JUBA – South Sudan opposition commander and senior member of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) Kitgwang faction led by former SPLA-IO chief of staff General Simon Gatwech Dual has denied social media claims that he has defected to rejoin the SPLA-IO faction led by First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny.

This comes after social media activists circulated speculations that General Thomas Mabor Dhol, one of the defiant three opposition commander opposition Machar, defected following deadly fighting on Tuesday in which several opposition soldiers loyal to both factions were killed.

Speaking to Sudans Post this afternoon, General Mabor said the social media speculations are desperate attempts to paint him as an agent of First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny within the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition’s Kitgwang faction which he said is meant to cause mistrust among the SPLA-IO generals.

“As I speak to you now, I am in Magenis, the stronghold of the SPLM/SPLA (IO) under the overall command of General Simon Gatwech Dual. I haven’t defected as they claim, don’t trust them because they are desperate people who was to make me seen by my comrades as an agent for Dr. Riek Machar within in the SPLA-IO under General Simon Gatwech Dual,” he said.

The senior opposition commander further vowed to continue the struggle together with General Gatwech and General Johnson Olony Thabo saying he will never return to Juba before the implementation of the security arrangements provided for in the revitalized peace agreement signed in 2018.

“My message to Dr. Riek and Salva Kiir Mayardit is that please implement the peace agreement if you want peace to be achieved in South Sudan and forget about me. I will never return to Juba until when time come that the security arrangement which they signed is implemented in spirit,” he added.