December 9th 2018 (Nyamilepedia) – Military officers from the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) led by the former First Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon have defected to join the National Salvation Front (NAS-KB) led by Khalid Butrus accusing the SPLM-IO of caring out extra-judicial killings in Yei River state among other accusations.
“We, the undersigned commanders resigned from the SPLA-IO Brigade 3 Division 11B Sector 8 of Yei River state effective from the date of the signature of this circular,” they said in a statement extended to the Nyamilepedia.
The officers further said they left the SPLM-IO due to “unnecessary killings/assassinations of politicians, business persons and innocent civilians in Yei River state,” as well as “rampant corruption that includes but not limited to misusing of funds by the state authorities including its military commanders on the ground.”
The defectors accuse the SPLM-IO of making promotions based on relationship and not based in merit and seniority in the rebel ranks and file.
“Promotions in the military ranking were done on clan’s basis instead of merits,” they said in a join statement adding that they defected to the National Salvation Front (NAS) led by Khalid Butrus along with 500 officers and non officers, a claim the Nyamilepedia could not independently verify.
The defectors are Col. Loture Kajake Kenyi, Col. Victor Nyarteng Moses, Col. Henry Monoja Arapa and Col. Taban Peter Kerok.
