SPLM-DC leader Lam Akol denies defection to rebels

The chairman of South Sudan’s opposition party, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement for Democratic Change (SPLM-DC), has dismissed claims that he defected to the rebels in Addis Ababa.

The chairman of South Sudan’s opposition party, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement for Democratic Change (SPLM-DC), has dismissed claims that he defected to the rebels in Addis Ababa.

SPLM-DC leader Lam Akol Ajawin told El Maugif newspaper Thursday that some politicians are trying to intimidate him through claims that he had joined the armed insurgency of the SPLM-In Opposition (SPLM-IO).

Previously, Akol denied accusations associating its political party with a military wing stationed along the Sudan-South Sudan border.

He said that the SPLM-DC had a firm position and that he would return back to Juba on Friday evening, where he will hold a press conference at Juba Airport to refute the claims that he termed as “lies.”

South Sudanese political parties participating in the peace talks mediated by the East African regional bloc IGAD recently announced that Akol is no longer their leader.

In a statement on the state-owned SSTV, the group claimed that Akol demonstrated tendencies of working alone and collaborating with the other stakeholders against the government delegation without their knowledge.

Akol’s supporters alleged that the dissenting group was being manipulated by the government’s negotiators.

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