Top army veteran, 32 SPLM members join Machar

JUBA – A South Sudan army veteran in the country’s Northern Bahr el Ghazal state has declared his intention to join the main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) led by First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny saying Kiir is behind the ongoing instability in the country.

General Dhieu Kuel Kuel defected along with 32 other members of the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement faction led by President Salva Kiir Mayardit saying the main armed opposition group under Machar is “the answer to the many South Sudan problems” that the country has suffered under President Kiir’s government.

In a statement, senior SPLM-IO official and close ally of First Vice President Machar Dut Majokdit said the group welcomes the decision taken by the SPLM veteran and confirmed that he defected along with 32 other members of the SPLM party.

“I would like to take this privilege and opportunity to welcome veteran and liberator, Comrade Dhieu Kuel Kuel to the ranks and files of the SPLM/SPLA ( IO) in NBGS, please stay blessed Comrade Dhieu Kuel in the Movement with ( 32) Members,” he added.

The senior SPLM member’s defection comes a weeks after former minister of humanitarian affairs James Kok Ruea defected to President Salva Kiir’s government along with senior members of the group from Maiwut County of Upper Nile state.

They accused First Vice President Machar of ignoring the humanitarian situation in Fangak and Maiwut County and also of taking the main armed opposition group as a family property “because he has appointed his wife as the minister of defense.”