David Yau Yau Joins Machar’s IO

The Former Deputy Minister of Defense, and a one-time opposition leader, David Yau Yau, on Monday declared he is leaving the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement and joining the main armed opposition group, SPLM-IO, led by First Vice President Riek Machar.
Former Deputy Minister of Defense, and opposition leader, David Yau Yau [Photo: Awan Achiek]

By Awan Achiek

The Former Deputy Minister of Defense, and a one-time opposition leader, David Yau Yau, on Monday declared he is leaving the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement and joining the main armed opposition group, SPLM-IO, led by First Vice President Riek Machar.

Yau Yau cited the lack of implementation of the May 9, 2014 agreement between his Cobra faction and the government as one reason for his jumping ship.

His declaration came at a press conference organized by the SPLM-IO in Juba.

“We would like to underscore apart from the establishment of Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) and integration of the Cobra faction into the SPLA, other terms of the May 9 agreement have not been implemented,” Yau Yau said.

He said the Greater Pibor Administrative Area remains the most improvised, isolated and underdeveloped with no services due to the lack of implementation of the May agreement.

A former leader of the rebel SSDF-Cobra Faction in Pibor, Yau Yau signed a peace agreement with the government in May 2014 and joined the SPLM Party in January 2016.

The agreement ended four years of political instability in the country.

He is now accusing the ruling SPLM Party of “failing to deliver on promises for South Sudan’s independence.”

“The SPLM has failed to govern and provide security throughout the country. The semblance of government is only seen in Juba and state capitals,” Yau Yau said.

He claimed that the SPLM is only good at signing and violating agreements.

“The May 9th agreement on the resolution of conflict in Jonglei State, the ACRSS of 2015 and R-ACRSS of 2018 have suffered countless violations without redress,” Yau Yau said.

SPLM-IO Secretary General, Regina Joseph Kaba welcomed them to the journey of freedom, democracy, justice, peace, quality, and reform.

“I am here to officially welcome them starting with David Yau Yau and Gen. Baba also and 20 members of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State. So you are welcome to the journey of freedom, democracy, justice, peace, quality and reform,” Regina said.

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