Hundreds of stranded SPLA-IO soldiers allied to South Sudan’s former vice president and prominent opposition leader Riek Machar in Al-Meiram locality in Sudan’s West Kordofan State are threatening to join Salva Kiir’s army.
Col. Margaret Thomas told Radio Tamazuj on Friday that hundreds of SPLA-IO soldiers under command of Maj. Gen.Deng Deng Kuol are currently stranded in the west of Al-Meiram town, amid harsh humanitarian conditions.
Margaret accused senior commanders of the armed opposition faction of evacuating dozens of Nuer soldiers after signing of the peace deal in August 2015. She claimed that all SPLA-IO soldiers who hail from Western Bahr el Ghazal were left in Al-Meiram area without food and medicines.
“If Machar is unable to care for his troops, then he should inform us so that we can join SPLA army led by Kiir or any leader who can take care of us,” said Margaret.
The armed opposition officer further said the stranded SPLA-IO soldiers in the west of Al-Meiram town participated in military operations against Kiir’s government in March 2015.
Meanwhile, Lt. Emmanuel Kuol complained about worsening humanitarian conditions in the west of Al-Meiram town. He pointed out that they lived in the bush for more than three years behind the rebel leader Riek Machar.
Radio Tamazuj couldn’t reach SPLA-IO commanders to comment on their soldier’s claim in Al-Meiram locality.