SSUM’s top military general, John Gattial Riek, resigned from the opposition faction, citing differences over policy with his leader Gen. Peter Gatdet Yak.
Gattial, a military deputy chairman of the South Sudan United Movement (SSUM), said differences with Gen. Gatdet over policies was the reason why he resigned from the second-highest military position in the group.
“When opposition groups sent their representatives to Juba to expedite the peace process, Gatdet said our chief of staff should not go. Also, the officer in charge of security in our movement did not go,” he told Radio Tamazuj on Tuesday.
Gattial further said he has resigned from the armed opposition faction led by Gen. Peter Gatdet in protest against abuses.
He added that many innocent civilians were being subjected to torture by SSUM forces at the border between South Sudan and Sudan.
”Many traders are currently in detention and are being tortured. Those SSUM forces are present in many parts of Unity state and West Kordofan state in Sudan,” he said.
The top general said he supports the peace process in the country, saying he resigned together with several army officers. “We support peace and we have not joined any group. We want to be part of the peace process,” he said.
Gen. Peter Gatdet could not immediately be reached for comment.