President Salva Kiir’s office has categorically rejected the allegations of ethnic bias in South Sudan’s army, the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA).
Four top military officials have recently resigned while accusing the government of genocidal acts and ethnic bias.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Sunday, Ateny Wek Ateny, South Sudan’s presidential spokesman, rubbished the statements made by the SPLA generals who decided to tender their resignations over tribal army claims.
Ateny claimed that the SPLA army is a national military institution in South Sudan, while dismissing as ‘propaganda’ the statements by the resignees.
“The issue is not about the Dinka tribe. The SPLA is a national army, it includes all the tribes of this country,” said Ateny.
“Even what Thomas Cirillo said is untrue. If the SPLA army is for the Dinka tribe only, why did he accept to serve as the deputy chief of general staff throughout these years? Why did he accept to work in the Dinka army?”He asked.
Photo: Ateny Wek Ateny speaks to reporters after receiving SPLM-IO defectors at Juba Airport (Radio Tamazuj)