An army general from the opposition faction of Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO) led by former First Vice President, Riek Machar defected to join the faction of First Vice President Taban Deng Gai.

The latest defection comes as South Sudan leaders struggle to bring about peace through the revitalization process led by the East African regional bloc IGAD.

“I am hereby informing the people of South Sudan in general and the international community in particular that I have decided to abandon Riek Machar's camp,” General Wang Chiok Koryom said in his statement today.

The defected general criticized Machar’s leadership style. “For the last one year and half since July 2016, we have seen nothing other than failure, hopelessness, despair, deception and failed leadership of Riek Machar,” he said.

“”I am calling upon my comrades who remained behind to be bold enough and quit Riek Machar's faction,” he added.

General Wang is expected to arrive in Juba today.