The former Minister of Local Government in South Sudan’s Eastern Equatoria State on Tuesday announced his defection to join the SPLM-IO faction led by former first vice president and rebel leader Riek Machar.

In a statement, Lokai Iko Loteyo said that the current government has betrayed the core values and objectives of the ruling SPLM party.

“As of now, this historic party and government have been infiltrated and run by the enemies and agents of hostile parties to the interests of the people of South Sudan during the liberation,” partly reads the statement.

According to Loteyo, unabated massive corruption had led to lack of service delivery and increased criminal activities in South Sudan.

He also accused President Kiir of tribalising the national army by recruiting his own tribesmen who were largely to blame for killings.

"President Kiir has personally sanctioned the horrendous massacres of the people from the greater Equatoria region as well as the upper Nile State, Jonglei state, Unity state and Western Bahr al Ghazal State," Loteyo said.

Lokai Iko Loteyo had served as commissioner of Kapoeta North County from 2010-2014 and minister of local government in Eastern Equatoria State from 2014 to 2015.

File photo: