A senior South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) commander has defected from the military’s First Infantry Division in the border town of Renk, citing the targeting of his ethnic Nuer community amid rising political tensions in the country.
Tensions have escalated in parts of South Sudan, particularly in Upper Nile State, following deadly clashes between the SSPDF and a predominantly Nuer youth militia known as the White Army. The violence has resulted in significant casualties.
The government has accused the White Army of ties to the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO), led by detained First Vice President Riek Machar, further intensifying the political crisis.
Brig. Gen. James Gatjiath Chuong, the former operations commander of the First Infantry Division, told Radio Tamazuj in an interview that the tensions had taken on an ethnic dimension, prompting his decision to defect on April 6.
“Since the civil war in 2013, I have been with the government. However, I have now defected to the SPLA-IO,” he said. “The entire security committee in Renk, including administrative leadership, declared that no Nuer should remain in the military there. As a result, officers like Col. Diu Guec, Moses Ruon, and Changkuoth Ted have been either relocated or removed as battalion commanders.”
Gatjiath claimed the changes in Upper Nile State were ethnically motivated.
“I was told I was not needed in Renk and that I had mobilized Nuer people. They ordered me to report to general headquarters in Juba,” he said. “What was disappointing was that these decisions were made without following military procedures. I never had problems with the people of Renk, but divisions arose after the incident in Nasir, and everywhere became a target.”
He accused the government of losing legitimacy and expressed regret for his service, saying he felt exploited.
SPLA-IO spokesperson Col. Lam Paul Gabriel confirmed in a Tuesday statement that Brig. Gen. Gatjiath had defected to their group.
“The SPLA-IO welcomes Gen. Gatjiath Chuong to the people’s movement and wishes him well at this crucial time,” the statement read in part.
Radio Tamazuj could not reach SSPDF spokesperson Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang for comment.