Oct 3, 2013(Nyamilepedia) —— Maj. Gen Saki Palaoko Joseph, a former Operation commander in Maridi of Western Equatoria defects the National Alliance Salvation(NAS) of Lt. Gen. Thomas Cirillo Swaka and re-declare his allegiance to SPLA IO under Dr. Riek Machar Teny.
According to Gen. Saki, he left the SPLA-IO and joined NAS due to administrative issues, however, the SPLA-IO leadership formed a committee headed by Maj. Gen. Yata Joseph Albiros to look into Gen. Saki’s grievances.
Saki pledges that his grievances have been resolved and he is now happy to rejoin the SPLA-IO and continue to command the SPLA-IO forces in Western Equatoria as before.
“I finally would like to inform the entire SPLA-IO movement that I’m back with new resilience and I do hereby understand their past frustration and I sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused” Gen. Saki said.
Gen. Saki believes that his return to SPLA-IO could signalize that other defectors could return to their ranks and files under the main armed opposition.
“I also call upon the other colleagues to rejoin the people’s movement so that final and ultimate peace is achieve in South Sudan” Saki calls on colleagues from defected from SPLA-IO and other parties to join Thomas Cirillo to return to their position.
According to the Deputy Spokesman of SPLA-IO, Col. Lam Paul Gabriel, Gen. Saki went on “a short holiday” to tour NAS and now has returned to rescue his suffering people.
“However due to his love for the suffering citizens of South Sudan, he (Palaoko) decided to end his long holidays abroad in NAS and came back home to the people’s movement.”
“The chairman and Commander in Chief Dr. Riek Machar formed a committee comprised of Maj. Gen. Yata Joseph Albiros (Chairman), Col. Lam Paul Gabriel(Secretary General) and two security personnel to dialogue with Gen. Palaoko and assure him of his security at home in the SPLA IO.” Lam continued.
Gen. Saki was among the generals who evacuated Dr. Machar from Juba to DRC and his contribution in SPLA-IO, according to the deputy spokesman, is very significant.
Lam believes that Saki’s return shows that SPLA-IO leadership listens and resolves grievances within its ranks and files.
“The coming of Gen. Palaoko is a sign that the SPLA IO is ready to listen to the grievances of all those who left the movement and want to come back to champion the reform agenda and achieve the much needed peace under the leadership of Dr. Riek Machar.”
