4 SPLA-IO generals arrested for trying to defect to Kiir in Nyirol County

JUBA – South Sudan’s main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) in Nyirol County of Jonglei state has announced that it has arrested four of its senior commanders for attempt to defect to South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) led by President Salva Kiir Mayardit.

Top opposition commanders quoted by the independent Radio Tamazuj, those arrested include the SPLA-IO’s head of wounded heroes, Lt. Gen. Machar Puoch Nhial, along with Maj. Gen. Makuach Gatluak, Maj. Gen. Yian Thuar Kuny, and Col. Nyang Lony.

Maj. Gen. Stephen Bang Kueybol, the acting head of the SPLA-IO’s third infantry division said Friday that he ordered the arrest of the officers on  Wednesday evening because they were ‘inciting violence’ as they allegedly tried to defect to the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF).

“These generals are our members but they want to defect. They have not yet done anything bad but they are inciting violence,” Gen. Bang explained, according to Radio Tamazuj. “So, as the commander in charge, it is my role to foster security, I cannot wait for them to start fighting.”

He said the detained senior SPLA-IO officers are being investigated pending expulsion from the county.

“We are investigating them for inciting violence and trying to defect while we are for peace. We are holding them because we want more people arrested. After the others are arrested, we will expel them to Juba so that they practice their politics there,” Gen. Bang added.

Khor Nyang Mabor, the SPLA-IO’S third Division communication officer, said Nyirol is peaceful despite Wednesday’s incident and called on the civil population to be calm. He also appealed to the rest of the peace partners to abide by the peace agreement by not encouraging defections.

“Such defections are orchestrated by our main peace partner led by the president (Salva Kiir) to delay the security arrangements because these people were planning to cause problems here and then escape to Waat,” Nyang said.

For his part, James Bol Makuey, the Nyirol County commissioner, said the county was calm despite the incident.

“As the commissioner, the arrest was reported to me,” Commissioner Bol said. “Generally, the security situation is calm because these developments are taking place within the barracks. Civilians are not involved.”