EXCLUSIVE: Ex-South Sudan envoy to Russia Telar Ring to return to Kiir-led SPLM faction

JUBA – Former South Sudan ambassador to the Russian Federation, Telar Ring Deng, is considering return to the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM-IG) led by President Salva Kiir Mayardit, two high-profile sources told Sudans Post.

On February 20, 2020, the former diplomat who left his job in Russia in 2018, announced in a statement that he was joining the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) led by First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny.

At the time, Telar recently joined the Kiir-led SPLM faction after a self-imposed exile following his resignation as South Sudan’s ambassador to Moscow in 2018.

“This is to inform you that ambassador Telar Ring Deng is returning to the mother SPLM led by H.E the President of the Republic Salva Kiir Mayardit,” one source said from Juba this afternoon.

“All this time, negotiation involving of well-known elders from Lakes state has been ongoing and he has been convinced to return and we only remain with terms of his returns because he is giving conditions.”

Another opposition source closed to Telar said the former diplomat has been in unusual meetings with government officials from the side of President Salva Kiir. He said among the high profile official who met Telar recently is the acting SPLM Secretary-General Dr. Anne Ito.

“Well I  haven’t heard that, but what I can say is that I cannot rule out any intention from Telar to return to the SPLM-IG. This thing (defection) shouldn’t be a matter of surprise nowadays. People are crossing from place to place,” the official said.