Last week, General Khor Chuol accused Machar of turning the SPLM-IO into a “family company” and making the main armed opposition group a “SPLM/SPLA (IO) of despot, corrupt, tribalist and nepotist Leader Riek Machar Teny Dhurgon and his wife Angelina Jany Teny.”
In a statement on Saturday, SPLA-IO spokesman Lam Paul Gabriel confirmed General Khor Chuol’s defection and said the main armed opposition group respects his decision to choose a group of his choice.
“The SPLA-IO leadership learned of the defection of Maj. Gen. Khor Chuol with three other officers to the SSPDF on 09/08/2021 in Malual Gahoth,” he said.
However, the opposition military spokesman said the defection is a violation of the revitalized peace agreement and urged peace monitors to investigate the matter and hold those involved to account.
“Much as it is his right to associate humanly, the R-ARCSS considers defections as violations which need to be strongly condemned by all parties to the agreement,” he said.
“The SPLA-IO wishes Maj. Gen. Khor Chuol well where he is going and urged him to move his supporters out of Malual Gahoth being an area under the control of the SPLA-IO as these sponsored defections always end in attacks against the SPLA-IO forces,” he added.
He further said that the “SPLA-IO leadership ask the CTSAMVM to investigate this violations and hold those responsible to account.”