SPLM-IO welcomes defecting SPLM officials

JUBA – South Sudan’s main armed opposition group, SPLM-IO, led by First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny has welcomed almost 200 officials who defected on Friday from the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) led by President Salva Kiir.

The group who declared their intention to join the main armed opposition group was led by former Aweil West Commissioner of Northern Bahr el Ghazal state Lino Dut Wol and accused President Kiir and Northern Bahr el Ghazal governor Tong Aken Ngor of turning it into an individual business enterprise.

“The SPLM Party currently have completely lost direction of taking country to a war where by SPLM leadership has subjected communities to communal conflict of which more youth are dying day and night in every state across the country with law and accountability,” the group said in a statement extended to Sudans Post Friday.

In a statement welcoming the defecting officials, senior SPLM-IO official and close ally of First Vice President Machar, Dut Majokdit, said they main armed opposition leadership welcomes the defection.

“We would like to welcome Hon. Lino Dut Wol, former Commissioner of Aweil West County & former deputy chairman of the SPLM with 182 Members to the SPLM-IO, under His Excellency Dr. Riek Machar, Chairman and Commander in Chief of the SPLM/A-IO,” the statement reads in part.

“SPLM-IO Leadership in Northern Bahr el Ghazal state has welcomed the comrades to the People’s Struggle as we spearhead the reform agenda in the nation! Allowing political space is good for peaceful transition in the state,” he added.