Sep 17,2021 — Top opposition members from South Sudan United Front/Army (SSUF/A) led by SSPDF former Chief of General Gen. Paul Malong Awan have defected today and pledged their allegiance to Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army-In-Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) under the FVP Dr. Riek Machar.
The defectors were welcomed by the SPLM/A-IO leadership in Egypt in a press conference that was organized for the SSUF/A members to declare their full support to SPLM/A-IO under country’s first vice president Dr. Machar.
“We the members of SSUF/A do hereby switch our allegiance to the SPLM/A-IO under the leadership of H.E Dr. Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon, Chairman and Commander-In-Chief of the SPLM/A-IO and the First Vice President of the Republic of South Sudan”, the SSUF/A declared in a press conference.
Speaking to Nyamilepedia after press conference, deputy head of the defecting group, Maj. Gen. Angelo Amum said the reason why they have defected from the leadership of SSUF/A under Gen. Paul Malong Awan is because of lack of clear vision, adding that the chairman carries the movement as his personal briefcase and as such they couldn’t continue working under him anymore.
“The reason for our defection is lack of clear vision and mission within the movement, the movement is being run parallelly by the chairman”, Gen. Amum said.
In his part, the Secretary General of the SPLM-IO Coordination office in Egypt, Cde. Tap Tap Gatluak welcomed the new members and promised them that the only way to achieve the lasting peace in the country is to support peace and rally behind the SPLM/A-IO leadership under the First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar.
A total of 11 members, who identified themselves as follow, joined the SPLM/A-IO in persons in Egypt and claimed to have more influence on the ground in South Sudan.
(1.) Lt.Gen. Dr. Obac Walter Kunijwok-Head of the group.
(2.) Maj. Gen. Angelo Amum-Deputy Head
(3.) Gen. Chuol Bileu Kuach
(4.) Badriva Kur Papiti
(5.) Susan Phillip Deng
(6.) Esra Abdullah Lokosang
(7.) Roman Peter Akul
(8.) Susan Kimo Deng
(9.) Akuol Peter Yay
(10.) Brond Peter Deng
(11.) Romas Peter Yay.
