SPLA-IO General joins Kiir, accuses Machar of nepotism

JUBA – A senior commander of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) led by First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny has declared his intention to join the South Sudan People’s Defense Force (SSPDF) under President Salva Kiir accusing Machar of nepotism.

General Barnaba Malish who is the SPLA-IO deputy commander of the opposition forces in Mundri said he defected from Machar to protests nepotism and lack of reforms within the main armed opposition group.

“I defected from the SPLA-IO under Dr. Riek [Machar] on September 6, 2020, to President Salva Kiir because our leader is not thinking of his people, but for himself and his family. That’s why we decided to defect from the party to join Kiir, and I have defected with 165 soldiers,” he was quoted by Radio Tamazuj.

The SPLA-IO forces in Western Equatoria state conformed separately Barnaba’s defection.

“If you have an issue with the administration, you can just address it administratively without defecting and leaving the work. The soldiers in the cantonment sites in Mundri and Yambio should wait for their graduation. This is the time for peace and not politics because we are going to be one army,” said the SPLA-IO spokesman in Western Equatoria Costa Joseph.