South Sudan Opposition Alliance disowns Jonglei defectors

BOR – The South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) has refuted recent claims suggesting that 45 commanders and over 120 soldiers defected to General Simon Gatwech Dual Hoth’s SPLM-IO Kit-Gwang faction in Jonglei State.

The allegations were brought to light by Brigadier General Moses Mayen during an interview with Sudans Post last week. Mayen had said that he, 45 other officers and 120 soldiers, defected due to unwillingness of President Kiir to implement the peace agreement.

Wany Bum Makhor, the Interim Secretary General of SSOA in Jonglei State, in a statement extended to Sudans Post categorically denied the defection allegations.

Makhor emphasized that there was no defection in Akobo County and asserted that the defectors are ‘frustrated’ officers abandoned by the main armed opposition SPLM-IO under First Vice President Riek Machar.

“The South Sudan opposition Alliance (SSOA) under over all command of Denay Jock Chagor in Jonglei State would like to categorically underline the following. There was no defection in Akobo County as purported by a few frustrated, long abandoned soldiers affiliated with SPLM-IO under the Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny,” Makhor said in the statement.

“The alleged Brig. Gen. Moses Mayen who claimed to have left SSOA with 120 soldiers and 45 officers to Kit-Gwang who is not in the ranks and files of South Sudan Opposition Alliance.  All soldiers under SSOA are in their Cantonment sites in Akobo County as well as in Uror and Nyirol, respectively,” he added.

Highlighting the commitment of SSOA to the peace process, Makhor praised Chairman Denay Jock Chagor’s substantial contributions to negotiations and the signing of the current peace agreement and urged other peace partners to disregard the unfounded and untrue defection reports, attributing them to elements opposed to peace and stability in the country.

We call upon our partners in peace to give little credence to concocted reports manufactured by antagonists of peace and stability in South Sudan. SSOA in Jonglei State remains dedicated to the full and timely implementation of all provisions of the peace agreement, as the country progresses towards free, fair, and credible elections in December 2024,” concluded Makhor.

“At this juncture, we would like to call our partners in peace to pay little attention to the concocted reports manufactured by antagonists of peace and stability in South Sudan,” he said.

“SSOA in Jonglei State is committed to the full and timely implementation of all provisions of the peace agreement as the country is parading for unfailingly free, fair and credible elections in December, 2024,” he added.