Khamis Abdel-Latif Chawoul Lom, a former security official from Lakes State, has defected to the SPLM-In Opposition of Riek Machar.
In a statement explaining his defection, Khamis said he defected because SPLM-Juba leader Salva Kiir displays what he described as “dictatorial and tribal tendencies only to loot moneys and assets of the people of South Sudan.”
“You are all aware that the administration of President Salva Kiir Mayardit continues to practice policies that are contrary to aspirations, dreams, expectations, and hopes of the people of South Sudan,” Khamis wrote, blaming Kiir for “divisions, wars, and assassinations being practiced between communities of Lakes State.”
He accused Kiir of running an administration that only serves the interests of the president’s coethnics from Warrap state, listing 53 such individuals who hold government office.
Khamis, who was accused of plotting a coup against Kiir in December 2013, was appointed Director General of state-run South Sudan TV and Radio (SSTV) in September 2014. In the past few months he engaged in a power struggle there with National Information Minister Michael Makuei Lueth.
Khamis said in his defection statement that the coup-plotting accusations were engineered by Lueth “as a calculated attempt to tarnish my reputation.” He further alleged that his phones in Juba have been tapped by Major General Akol Kor, Director General of Internal Security, who Khamis claims conspired against him with Lueth.
The defected official served as Security Advisor at the Ministry of Interior before being dismissed and then appointed to the Police Service by Kiir in November 2013.
Related:
Head of SSTV accuses Makuei of warmongering (13 Dec.)
Former SSTV boss denies defection to rebels (20 Nov.)
Open power struggle at South Sudan state TV (5 Nov.)
Former security official appointed to head state radio in South Sudan (7 Sep.)