James Khan Jok, former minister of education and member of Upper Nile state parliament, declared his loyalty to the government of Salva Kiir Friday after supposedly defecting to the rebels.
“The reasons of my defection from the rebel they are many but I will mention few of them," he said in Juba upon his arrival from Nairobi, Kenya. "[Rebel leader] Riek Machar on ground is telling us that the fighting is between Nuer and Dinka while in Addis Ababa he is appointing Dinka in key top positions."

Jok accused the opposition commander of having a "hidden agenda" and fighting in order to gain power.

Jok further alleged that Machar is killing people in South Sudan by failing to respect the ceasefire agreement.

However, the rebels denied that Jok was ever part of their side.

“James Khan Jok has never been a member of our movement. He fled Malakal as a fugitive when he got himself into administrative problems with the state government, but never joined us. He had been in Nairobi, maybe trying to solve his personal problems with the government. He is simply reporting himself back to his government after running away for personal reasons,” said Machar spokesperson James Gatdet Dak, speaking to Sudan Tribune.

Jok claims that he joined the rebels on 28 December for his safety during fighting without realizing their agenda.

Divisions among politicians in Addis Ababa

Separately, some of the non-SPLM politicians participating in peace talks in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia have disowned political parties' leader Lam Akol, saying he is acting without their consent.

Members of the United Democratic Salvation Front, National Congress Party in South Sudan, the African National Congress, and the National Democratic Front said that Akol, who heads the SPLM-DC party, was improperly holding meetings, reported Sudan Tribune.

Akol's supporters accused those disowning him of being manipulated by the government to create divisions among the political parties' negotiating bloc.

Radio Tamazuj Photo: James Khan Jok returns from Nairobi to pledge allegiance to Salva Kiir.

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