The former governor of South Sudan’s Latjor State has declared allegiance to rebels allied to former First Vice President, Riek Machar.
Peter Gatkuoth Kor, who was a senior member of the now defunct SPLM-IO group led by the current First Vice President Taban Deng Gai, accused the government of advancing tribal agenda in the country.
He was dismissed from his position as state governor in January 2017.
The former governor, in a statement he issued on Saturday, said he decided to join the rebellion under Machar after the Juba government failed to work for peace in the country.
“I would like to take this opportunity to inform the people of South Sudan wherever they may be that as from now, I have switched my support from the so-called government of national unity led by Salva Kiir Mayardiit, Taban Deng Deng and James Wani Igga respectively,” he wrote.
Gatkuoth further said he was disappointed by the recent decision taken by the first vice president Taban Deng Gai to reunify with the SPLM party led by President Salva Kiir.
“Frankly speaking we all know the principle of political party, one person cannot dissolve the party whatsoever the case. Consequently, those who are under dissolved IO will only be floundering,” he said.
Peter Hoth Tuach, information minister of Latjor State, confirmed to Radio Tamazuj the former governor defected to Riek Machar.