SPLM leader Salva Kiir has received a blow after former deputy defense minister Gen. David Yau Yau defected to join the opposition SPLM-IO led by Dr. Riek Machar.

Gen. Yau Yau held other positions in government, including becoming the chief administrator of the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) and deputy minister of labour and public service.

Gen. Yau Yau, a former leader of the rebel SSDF-Cobra Faction in Pibor, signed a peace agreement with the government in May 2014 and joined the SPLM Party in January 2016.

Gen. Yau Yau announced his defection from the SPLM Party on Monday at a press conference in Juba, a move seen as a major blow to Kiir and his SPLM Party as the parties prepare for general elections in December this year.

“After deep reflections and soul searching on the prevailing political and transitional processes and the need to secure the future of the Republic of South Sudan and Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA), I have decided to tender my resignation from the SPLM with effect from April 1, 2024,” said Yau Yau.

The former rebel commander said the ruling SPLM Party has “failed to deliver on promises for South Sudan’s independence.”

“The SPLM has failed to govern and provide security throughout the country. The semblance of government is only seen in Juba and state capitals,” said Yau Yai. “There is no respect for the rule of law and constitutionalism throughout the country.”

He continued, “It is fair to conclude that SPLM-IG [SPLM in Government] is only good at signing and violating agreements. There is a serious lack of political will to implement agreements by the SPLM-IG in South Sudan…The ongoing call and insistence by the SPLM-IG to conduct premature elections in December 2024 is all about the logic to refuse to implement the agreement and abrogate it altogether.”

The former SPLM official said he has decided to join hands with the opposition SPLM-IO Party to implement the 2018 revitalized peace agreement to ensure peaceful and democratic transition to a new political dispensation.

“This declaration neither affects the status of Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) as such has become part and parcel of the transitional constitution nor the South Sudan Defense Forces who have been integrated into the SSPDF,” he concluded.