The SPLA-IO faction allied to former vice president Riek Machar claimed that the government-appointed commissioner of Panyijiar who is still under their detention in Panyijiar County has decided to defect to their side.
In December last year, rebels allied to Riek Machar detained the government-appointed commissioner of Panyijiar County Peter Gatkoi after his chartered plane landed in their area in Ganyliel.
James Yoach, spokesman for the SPLA-IO, told Radio Tamazuj that the commissioner of Panyijiar decided to join the SPLM-IO faction.
He said yesterday.” Today, the commissioner of Panyijiar Gatkoi Bilieu has joined us in Ganyiel, he decided to join the SPLA-IO. Gatkoi has been living together with his people here in Ganyiel, we didn’t detain him,” he said.
For his part, Peter Makuoth Malual, Information Minister in Southern Liech State, denied claims that their commissioner joined the rebels in Ganyliel area. “This is untrue. The commissioner has not joined the SPLA-IO, he didn’t join them. He is the one to inform the people that he decided to join the SPLA-IO,” he said.