South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Awan Achiek
More than 4,000 members of the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA), a coalition of opposition groups, have defected to the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) and other regular forces .
The defectors, led by Maj. Gen. Nyuop Kuol Nyuop, Maj. Gen. Samuel Mabor Mayen, and Maj. Gen. Gabriel Monykuch Dok, include personnel from the police, wildlife officers, national security services, prison services, and the national fire brigade service.
They were trained and stationed in various military areas, including Pantit and Masenabiira in the Greater Bahr el Ghazal region, as well as Tufagia and Alel in the Upper Nile region.
Maj. Gen. Samuel Mabor Mayen, the commander of the defectors, announced their separation from SSOA.
“We hereby declaring our complete and ultimate disengagement from the South Sudan Opposition Alliance and its affiliated political organizations,” Gen. Mabor stated during a press conference in Juba on Tuesday.
Gen. Mabor noted that they relinquished all duties previously assigned to them in both military and security mechanism .
“We call upon all forces who graduated with us under SSOA, as well as other opposition forces in the Upper Nile, Bahr el Ghazal, and Equatoria regions, to take the same stance and disengage from SSOA.”
David John Kumuri, spokesperson for the National Security Services, reported that they received 4,410 forces from SSOA, comprising 2,380 from Upper Nile and 2,280 from Bahr el Ghazal regions.
“The National Security Service informs the public that it has received additional SSOA forces after declaring their of allegiance and subsequent defection to the South Sudan government,” Kumuri said.
He added that the force declared its complete withdrawal from SSOA and all affiliated political organizations.
“The service has welcomed the group, ensured the security and safety of its members, and reiterated that necessary security and military arrangements, including additional training and subsequent integration into the national army, shall be expedited as soon as possible.”
Ter Manyang Gatwech, executive director of the Center for Peace and Advocacy (CPA), stated that these military defections undermine security arrangements.
“First of all, defections are prohibited by the peace agreement. If you look at Chapter 2 of the peace agreement, it does not allow for defection or propaganda,” Manyang said.
