Maj. Gen. Maj Gen. Moses Biel Rom said on Monday that he and his troops who defected to join Gen. Simon Gatwech following the August 2021 SPLA-IO split have now rejoined Machar after abandoning SPLA-IO Kitgwang base in Pieri and Juet areas of Jonglei state
“I defected alongside another general with 80 officers, 30 soldiers, and 50 police officers on Saturday. Now, I am at an SPLA-IO base in Pertet and these forces with me abandoned Kitgwang bases in Pieri and Juet of Yuai town. I do not have any problem with Gen. Gatwec Dual. I had some misunderstandings here with some officers but I do not want to go through details,” he is quoted by Radio Tamazuj as saying.
“So, I just want to announce that I have defected for the sake of peace and I will from tomorrow move to the SPLA-IO cantonment site in Motot,” he added.
SPLA-IO officer Lt. Kuony Malual Koryom further confirmed the defection of troops to their site and said “The numbers which I received here at Pertet are 82 with various ranks from the police and army.”
In Juba, Col. Lam Paul Gabriel further welcomed the defectors.
“As SPLA-IO, we welcomed these defections in Uror because it will bring peace in Uror and we will always welcome anyone coming back so long as it is for peace,” he said.