A group of senior SPLA-IO officers said they defected from rebel leader Riek Machar, claiming to have formed a new armed movement comprised of field commanders.
Spokesman of the defectors James Lony told Radio Tamazuj that rebel commander Peter Gatdet and a group of other senior officers and supporters have denounced SPLM/A-IO leader Riek Machar.
He pointed out that Machar accepted to work with Salva Kiir and the SPLM Former Detainees faction in Juba.
The defectors accused their former boss of working for his own interest, “forgetting the main purpose for which we took up arms”.
For his part, SPLM-IO head of external affairs Dhieu Mathok downplayed the statement made by the field commanders.
He accused Salva Kiir’s government of fabricating the statement in order to obstruct the ongoing peace talks in Addis Ababa. He denied any signature bearing the name of former SPLA-IO deputy chief of staff for operations, Peter Gatdet Yaak.
The rebellion of Riek Machar has been negotiating with Salva Kiir’s government to sign a peace agreement in Addis Ababa. The IGAD-Plus mediators’ peace proposal leaves President Salva Kiir in power and makes Riek Machar his First Vice-President.