South Sudan army general defects to SPLA-IO, citing ‘genocide’ and ‘corruption’

MALAKAL – A high-ranking general from South Sudan’s army, the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF), has defected to the main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO), the defector and the rebel group said on Tuesday.

Brig. Gen. James Gatjiath, who was the operations commander for the SSPDF’s 1st infantry division in Upper Nile, told Sudans Post via phone call on Tuesday that he had joined the SPLA-IO to distance himself from what he described as “genocide” and “corruption” against ethnic groups in South Sudan.

“This is to inform you that I have defected with my force from the SSPDF and now I am with the SPLA-IO,” he said in a phone call from an undisclosed location he claimed was “inside the country.”

Gatjiath accused President Salva Kiir Mayardit’s government of handing the country over to neighboring Uganda, alleging they were planning a “genocide” together.

“The reasons why I defected is because we have a lot of mess taking place in the country. Salva Kiir has handed over the country to Uganda and because of the impending genocide and the current corruption, I have to distance myself from future accountability,” he added.

In a statement, the SPLA-IO confirmed the defection and claimed that approximately 40 armed youth, allegedly forced to fight in Upper Nile by the government, had surrendered to them in Ulang County.

The SPLA-IO statement, issued by their spokesperson Col. Lam Paul Gabriel, welcomed General Gatjiath to their ranks.

“On 06/04/2025, Brig. Gen. James Gatjiath Choung, the Operation Commander of 1st Infantry Division (Jamus) defected from the SSPDF to the SPLA-IO under the command of H.E. Riek Machar Teny Dhurgon. The SPLA-IO welcomes General Gatjiath Chuong to the people’s movement and wish him well at this crucial time,” Lam said.

The statement also addressed the reported surrender of the youth.

“The SPLA-IO also welcomes and appreciates 40 armed civilians who surrendered to its bases in and around Ulang after being conscripted from Prisons in Juba and Malakal and then forced to go and fight a war created by the SPLM-IG and SSPDF,” Lam added.

Lam directed their forces to “continue to welcome patriotic soldiers from the SSPDF who are tired of being used by the Elites in Juba for personal and political purposes.”

Ulang was previously part of Nasir before becoming a separate county. Nasir was the site of last month’s clashes between the SSPDF and the White Army, a Nuer youth group that fought alongside the SPLA-IO during the 2013-2018 civil war.