Ex-Lakes state governor Chol Tong Mayay annnounced that he has defected from the SPLM-G10 'Former Detainees' faction to join the the SPLM faction loyal to South Sudan's President Salva Kiir.

"I hereby declare the end of my membership in the SPLM FDs/G10 and joining the re-unified SPLM under the leadership of H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit, Chairman of the SPLM and President of the Republic of South Sudan with effect from today 18th January 2016," Chol said in a statement.

The announcement ends two years of his membership in the Former Detainees, an unarmed group of prominent SPLM leaders who Kiir's forces arrested at the outbreak of civil war in December 2013. The Former Detainees are led by Deng Alor.

Chol also declared support to the creation of 28 states in South Sudan, claiming it was an irreversible popular demand of the people.

He claimed it was "critically necessary in the interest of peace, unity, healing and reconciliation to come together as leaders and rally behind the leadership of Cde. Salva Kiir Mayardit for expeditious and full implementation of the agreements in order to end the suffering of our people and embark on state building, reconstruction and meaning development."

File photo: Former Lakes state governor, Chol Mayay (Sudan Tribune)