Three senior veterans of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) have been reunited with their families in Eastern Equatoria, following their repatriation from Eritrea.
The veterans, who fought in South Sudan’s liberation struggle between 1983 and 1992, were officially welcomed by the state government on Wednesday in Torit.
The returnees had been living in exile in Eritrea until their recent return, facilitated by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in collaboration with the South Sudanese embassy in Eritrea.
Senior SPLM commanders and local leaders gathered to welcome the veterans, marking an emotional homecoming after decades of separation.
Eastern Equatoria Governor Louis Lobong praised the veterans for their sacrifices during the liberation struggle and assured them of government support, despite the country’s ongoing economic challenges. He also donated an unspecified amount of money to the veterans, urging them to reintegrate into their communities and rebuild their lives.
“We thank God for bringing you back alive to the nation you helped liberate. On behalf of the people of Eastern Equatoria, I welcome you all. We hope that the national government in Juba will provide further assistance to help you sustain your families. As you may know, many people have gone months without salaries, but we will do our best to support you,” Governor Lobong said.
One of the veterans, Simon Marko Oleyo, expressed gratitude for the warm reception, describing it as a boost to their hopes of contributing to South Sudan’s development.
“We were well received in Juba, and the state coordinator brought us to Eastern Equatoria. We arrived safely, and we thank President Salva Kiir and Governor Lobong for their support. It feels good to be home after so many years away,” he said.
Augustine Okuma, Chairperson of the Eastern Equatoria Relief and Rehabilitation Commission, commended the IOM and the South Sudanese embassy in Eritrea for their role in facilitating the veterans’ return. He confirmed that the three veterans had been reunited with their families in Torit and Magwi County after decades apart.
“Thanks to the IOM and the South Sudan embassy in Eritrea, we were able to bring back three veterans. Out of the 21 returnees, Eastern Equatoria has three—two from Torit and one from Magwi County,” Okuma explained.
Caesar Vuni Tombe Gale, Eastern Equatoria’s Coordinator in Juba, called on other veterans still living in neighboring countries to return home. He emphasized that many SPLM veterans abroad are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance to facilitate their repatriation.
“I want to thank the South Sudanese embassy in Eritrea and its partners for bringing our compatriots back. While a few have returned, we need many more to come home. They deserve to reunite with their families and contribute to the nation they fought for,” Gale said.