SPLM-IO denies defections in Unity State, calls claims ‘propaganda’

JUBA – The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO), led by First Vice President Riek Machar, has dismissed the recent announcement of 156 defections to the SPLM party under President Salva Kiir Mayardit as “baseless propaganda.”

On April 27^th, 2024, senior SPLM members in Unity State claimed the defection of over 156 SPLM-IO members.

However, SPLM-IO Chairperson of Information and Communication Committee in Unity State, Dhoal Koryom Lingling, denied these claims.

“The SPLM-IO in Unity State would like to categorically inform the entire membership of the SPLM-IO in the Republic of South Sudan and the general public to give no attention to such baseless propaganda,” Koryom said in a statement released on Monday.

Koryom asserted that the individuals claimed as defectors were primarily civil servants and civilians with no political affiliations, alleging that they were coerced to participate in the rally.

“Those who gathered were the state workforce whom they normally use to put under pressure when they want to conduct rally mainly civil servants and those who serve in the private sectors including the innocent ordinary civilians on the street and local markets in Bentiu and Rubkona who have nothing to do with politics,” he said.

The SPLM-IO official further claimed that the event was staged and lacked legitimacy.

“You can’t just announce on social media the welcoming of the new members to your party when they don’t resign from the party they came from and eventually announce their defections by themselves instead of others to announce on their behalf,” he stated.