Former information minister in Lol State Omer Eshag Mohamed has defected to the opposition seeking to overthrow the country’s president Salva Kiir Mayardit.

Omer Eshag resigned from his position last month calling the government policies “divisive.”

"After carefully thinking and analyzing all the options I had, I have finally decided that I will be joining SSUF/A under the leadership of General Paul Malong Awan because after the collapse of the peace talks in Addis Ababa, it is very clear that President Kiir and his team are not ready for peace," Omer said in a statement seen by Radio Tamazuj.

The former government official decried the ongoing devastating civil war in South Sudan, accusing President Kiir of failing to lead the people of South Sudan.