SSUF/A-ND leadership denies joining armed opposition faction

NAIROBI – South Sudan United Front/Army – Nairobi Declaration (SSUF/A-ND) under the leadership of General Dickson Gatluak Jock Nyuot has denied allegations that its forces joined the armed opposition faction (SPLM-IO) led by First Vice President Riek Machar.

Last week, the SPLA-IO fifth infantry division claimed that 476 SSUF fighters under the overall command of Brigadier General Tut Ruach Gith and his deputies arrived in Wangkuarbii area of Upper Nile State.

SSUF/A, in a statement issued on Friday last week, acknowledged the defection but said Ruach defected with only three officers during a visit to Juba last month.

“However, the remainder of the forces at Nyoplew remain loyal and committed to the SSUF/A-ND under the leadership of Major General Dickson Gatluak,” it read.

The group accused the SPLM-IO of facilitating defections during the peace implementation process, more than a year after it signed a declaration with the Juba government for integration of their forces into the South Sudan Peoples Defence Force (SSPDF).

“We reaffirm our commitment to the to the provisions outlined in the January 28^th, 2023 agreement with the Government of South Sudan,” stressed the statement.

The SSUF/A-ND said it remains dedicated to the implementation of the September 2018 peace agreement with the Government of the Republic of South Sudan.

The SSUF/A-Nairobi Declaration was formed on January 28, 2023 in Kenya. The group is a break-away faction from SSUF/A led by ex-army chief, Paul Malong Awan.