Army officer, soldiers join SPLA-IO

JUBA – A South Sudan army officer has joined the country’s main armed opposition group, SPLM/A (IO) led by First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny, according to a statement issued by the SPLA-IO spokesman Brig. Gen. William Gatjiath Deng.

According to the statement, Colonel Solomon Taidor Kueth along with nine soldiers from South Sudan army defected from Upper Nile to join the main armed opposition group and was able to meet the SPLA-IO military General Simon Gatwech Dual in Magenis.

“Today this morning, the SPLA (IO) office of information received Col. Solomon Taidor Kueth, with other nine (9) soldiers, all were said to have been defected from Biel Torkech, and officially declared their full allegiance to the SPLA (IO) where he Solomon, had previously served as a freedom fighter three (3) years back,” the statement extended to Sudans Post reads in part.

“Moreover, Col. Solomon has officially met with Chief of General Staff, Simon Gatwech Dual, and some SPLA(IO) senior officers, at Magenis,” the brief statement which is also published on social media Facebook added.