Juba, South Sudan
February 7, 2022 — Another senior opposition general in the file and ranks of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-In-Opposition (SPLA-IO) defected to South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) again.
Major General Tito Biel claimed to have defected with over 2,500 soldiers who are now ready to join the government.
In a statement seen by Nyamilepedia, Gen. Tito Biel says he decided to abandon the SPLA-IO under First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar due to lack of vision and direction.
” I defected from SPLA-IO to South Sudan Defense Forces (SSPDF) because the SPLA-IO is not having vision and mission”, Gen. Biel said in a declaration statement obtained by Nyamilepedia.
He accused the First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny of not having proper communication with the forces on the ground.
He now promised to work closely with President Salva Kiir Mayardit.
This is the second time a top SPLA-IO commander defected from the group within one week.
Earlier this week, a senior opposition commander in Ayod County of Jonglei State declared his intention to abandon Machar and join SSPDF under President Kiir.
In a statement, Major General Michael Dak Riek of the SPLA-IO division in Jonglei State’s Phow said he has defected along with a group of more than one-thousand (1000) soldiers and accused First Vice President Machar of deceiving his colleagues and his people in Ayod.
