SSOA officers and 120 soldiers defect to Gatwech’s SPLA-IO faction in Jonglei

BOR – A significant defection has occurred within the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) as 45 commanders and approximately 120 soldiers announced their departure from the group, pledging allegiance to the SPLA-IO Kitgwang faction led by General Simon Gatwech Dual in Jonglei State.

Brig. Gen. Moses Mayen, a senior SSOA commander stationed in Akobo, shared the motives behind their defection in an interview with Sudans Post on Friday morning.

He expressed frustration with President Salva Kiir’s perceived lack of commitment to integrating opposition forces, a key aspect of the peace agreement signed in 2018.

“Since the signing of the peace agreement in 2018, we have been in this place hoping that President Kiir will respect what he signed in Addis Ababa. But several years have passed, and the integration process is very complicated,” Gen. Mayen stated.

He emphasized the skepticism surrounding the implementation of the peace agreement, highlighting the prevailing suspicion that anyone not aligned with the government is viewed as a militia member.

“There is no indication that this peace agreement will ever be implemented, let alone the integration of the opposition forces. He sees anyone as a militia, and this makes anyone suspicious of the peace agreement,” Gen. Mayen added.

Gen. Mayen cited his decision to join General Gatwech as a commitment to the pursuit of peace for the country. He criticized the situation in Juba, stating, “There is no peace, and the only way to bring peace to this country is for Salva Kiir and Riek Machar to go so that the people of South Sudan decide how they reconcile.”

The senior opposition officer disclosed that he defected with 45 officers and 120 soldiers.

SPLA-IO Kitgwang spokesman Brig. Gen. Alfred Gach Thot confirmed the defection in a statement and commended the SSOA commander for the “courageous and timely decision” to switch allegiances to SPLM/A IO KD.

General Simon Gatwech Dual, a former SPLA-IO chief of staff, defected in June 2021, expressing disagreements within the group over Riek Machar’s return to Juba and subsequent detention by the government.

Although he signed a peace agreement with Kiir’s party in January 2022, he later accused the government of sabotaging the agreement and declared its end.

Gatwech has been engaged in conflicts with his former deputy General Johnson Olony, whom he accused of being influenced by the government to harm him.