Ex-deputy governor in Upper Nile defects to Machar’s faction

John Ivo Mounto, former deputy governor of South Sudan’s Upper Nile State, declared his loyalty to former vice president and prominent armed opposition leader Riek Machar on Friday.

John Ivo Mounto, former deputy governor of South Sudan’s Upper Nile State, declared his loyalty to former vice president and prominent armed opposition leader Riek Machar on Friday.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj after a press conference held in Nairobi yesterday, Mounto confirmed that he decided to defect from Salva Kiir government due to serious violations committed against innocent citizens by government troops.

The former official further said the government soldiers have been committing serious violations, such as rape and forceful displacement of local residents amid the silence of the national government in Juba.

“The government of South Sudan is irresponsible, children are dying, and women are dying,” said Mounto. “The country is now in a situation of hunger, soldiers go to citizen’s houses to loot, kill and beat people, but the government is doing nothing. So the people of South Sudan are like children whose mother had died, “he added.

The South Sudanese politician, who hails from Maban County, criticized the government’s policies which he said caused widespread hunger and poverty among the people of South Sudan.

“I cannot continue with that system, I don’t want such things to happen to the people, there is no money, there is no food, the country is being looted, while the government is doing nothing, “he said.

Mounto also slammed President Kiir’s order creating 28 states on the basis of tribes in South Sudan. He claimed that he defected to the SPLM-IO rebel faction led by Riek Machar together with a number of officials. However, the defector didn’t give further details about the other officials who also disowned Kiir’s government.   

John Ivo Monto had served as deputy governor of Upper Nile State before being sacked by former governor Simon Kun Puoc in April 2014. He had also served as state security adviser and Maban commissioner.

 The Maban Defense Force, a local militia, was formed during Mounto’s time in office. The local group had clashed with Nuer deserters from the SPLA, and subsequently targeted Nuer working with international aid organisations.

File photo: John Ivo