Top rebel commander, forces join Malong in Unity state

JUBA – A senior rebel commander loyal to former South Sudan army general turned rebel leader Gen. Stephen Buay Rolnyang has decided to abandon the group and join South Sudan United Front (SSUF/A) led by former army chief General Paul Malong Awan Anei, Malong’s allies in Nairobi said.

Maj. Gen. Amos Kuol Puok Gatwech along with eight senior opposition officers who were previously loyal to Gen. Buay’s group announced the decision during a function in the Sudanese capital Khartoum in which they accused Buay of lacking forces to launch attack against the regime in Juba.

“The official SSUF/A Deputy Military Spokesman, is very much honored and pleased to announce to the general public, our chapters and SSUF/A staunch partisans across the world and the entire leadership that, our alternative movement is so glad to welcome and thump-up for the ‘boldest decision’ taken by our like-minded comrades from SSPM/A under leadership of Gen. Stephen Buay who joined our mighty movement SSUF/A,” deputy SSUF/A military spokesman Maj. Philip Deng said in a statement extended to Sudans Post.

“On behalf of SSUF/A military leadership, allow me to give you a clue on the enormous news that a group of (officers, NCOs and men headed by Maj. Gen. Amos Kuol Puok Gatwech, switched allegiance from SSPM/A led by Gen. Stephen Buay Rolnyang to SSUF/A under the wisely leadership of Gen. Paul Malong Awan Anei,” he added.

He said the defecting officers “are being welcomed by SSUF/A chapter in Khartoum Sudan and awaiting an immediate transportation to SSUF/A military bases across South Sudan.”

“The aforementioned comrades who joined SSUF/A, are officers with military skills and whose presence in our mighty SSUF/A movement is absolutely more applause. SSUF/A still gaining the ground ahead of fighting for the restoration of a genuine peace to the jeopardized South Sudanese.”