South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Benjamin Takpiny
At least 645 officers of the armed opposition National Salvation Front (NAS) under Gen. Thomas Cirilo Swaka on Thursday defected to the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF).
The NAS officers led by Maj.Gen Emmanuel Salah were received by the SSPDF, National Security Services (NSS) leadership in Kuda area located on the outskirts of Juba in Central Equatoria State.
Salah said that they joined the SSPDF because they are committed to peace and unity as the country heads for the upcoming general election in December this year.
“I came with 645 forces, I thank all those who have been communicating with me, especially my community, they have been crying a lot that if I stay in the bush there will be no education for them,” Salah said.
He promised to work with the government led by President Salva Kiir and his community for peace to prevail in the country.
Salah said that he heeded to the call of his community who cajoled him to renounce rebellion fearing that they may be sidelined by the government in terms of services such as schools, health care and other developmental needs.
He added that civilians in Central Equatoria State will no longer be frightened to move along roads in areas his forces had been operating in.
Brig. Gen Peter Wal the SSPDF commander who received the former rebel fighters assured them of their safety.
He thanked the former rebel fighters for choosing peace over rebellion as the country heads for elections.
The Director of Public Relations in the National Security Services, David John said that Maj.Gen Emmanuel Salah has responded to the Presidential amnesty issued to all opposition fighters by President Salva Kiir.
“We want to welcome Maj.Gen Emmanuel Salah after accepting the Presidential amnesty given to all rebel forces including NAS led by Thomas Cirilo so that our people will come and enjoy peace in harmony and tranquility,” he said.
“I want to assure my brother Maj. Gen Salah of safety and you will move wherever you feel like to move and together with the President we will be able to take this country forward, this is not time for war, this is time we need to invest on agriculture, education so that we move the country forward,” John said.
Thomas Cirilo, the former deputy chief of staff for logistics in the SSPDF defected in February 2017 and formed the National Salvation Front to wrest power from President Salva Kiir.
NAS is part of the South Sudan Opposition Movement Alliance (SSOMA) that has been engaged in peace talks with the government in Rome, Italy since November 2019.