Juba, South Sudan
February 4, 2022 — A senior opposition commander, Maj. Gen. Dak Riek Kol, who was serving under Dr. Riek Machar’s SPLM/A-IO in Jonglei State’s Ayod county has defected from the SPLM/A-IO to South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) and SPLM mainstream.
In a statement seen by Nyamilepedia, Maj. Gen. Michael Dak Riek Kol abandons the SPLM/A IO of FVP and joined SSPF with what he described as “over 2000” soldiers from Ayod county, Jonglei State.
“.. Maj. General. Michael Dak who was under FVP Dr. Riek Machar Teny abandoned FVP and Join IG and SSPDF under the command of HE President Salva Kiir Mayardit”, the statement reads.
During his declaration Maj. Gen. Dak Riek said that Dr. Riek Machar lacked leadership qualities that are needed from someone senior like him to continue serving the country.
Gen. Dak said that leadership is when you put the interest of the movement before your personal interest and needs which he believes Machar do not seem to have.
The disgruntled general listed Dr. Machar’s failures from early 1990s to today and says Machar may never achieve anything.
“All Movements that Dr. Riek Machar formed and end up without having achieved a dime out of them”, Gen. Dak explained in a statement.
While declarating his support to HE President Salva Kiir Mayardit, Maj. Gen. Dak also said that it’s time to put greedy differences aside and pursue what will benefit the people of Ayod and Phow in Jonglei State.
It’s not the first time for Dr. Machar to be accused of neglecting his forces and majority of them are defecting from different fronts back to the government; however, Dr. Machar’s office doesn’t seem to be bothered by such developments.
