Gen. Stephen Aban Kwath, rebel-appointed commissioner of Makal County, has denied rumors that the Aguelek forces loyal to SPLA-IO rebel group led by former first vice president Riek Machar are planning to join the current government in Juba.

“On behalf of Aguelek leadership, I would like to dispel such wild rumors being disseminated,” partly reads a statement seen by Radio Tamazuj.

Aban also denied reports that their Governor Jukino Fidel Nyikayo has already arrived in Juba to seek appointment as new governor of the newly created Central Upper Nile State.

The opposition official claimed that they reject any appointments by President Salva Kiir because it would be against principles and values of the SPLM-IO movement.

“Aguelek, under the wing of SPLM/A IO, is a national movement which is there to speak on behalf of the oppressed, disgruntled, marginalized, and those whose land have been forcefully grabbed and occupied by certain ethnicities and government officials,” adds the statement.

The commissioner stressed that they will not go anywhere until the plan for confederate states of the Equatoria, Upper Nile, and Bahr al Ghazal regions is fully implemented.

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