Dec 3, 2016(Nyamilepedia) ——- A power struggle from within South Sudan’s oil rich Unity State could see another governor defecting to SPLM/SPLA in Opposition under the country’s former Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar Teny.
According to latest reports from Unity State, Governor Joseph Nguen Monytuel and other officials, who have allegedly defected from Salva Kiir, are paving a safe exit for their forces and stranded officials from government controlled areas.
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A credible source, who spoke on media assurance of anonymity, reveals that Governor Monytuel is no longer secure under Salva Kiir & Taban leadership and he is only taking chances to defect to SPLM/SPLA-IO with enough weapons and ammunition.
“Dr. Nguen defected long time ago. Because his brother was a suspect and was sent to Germany on medical grounds, Nguen was indirectly disarmed, so he calmed him down and forge good relations with his enemy(Taban Deng Gai).” The official said.
“At the back of his mind, he knows how Taban humiliated his Bul-Nuer community for many years. As soon as Taban began to manipulate president Kiir, he was considering his way out. That is why he moved to Unity State. He knows Taban as a snake who can strike any time like he did to Dr. Riek Machar” He continued.
The official argues that since a political rivalry broke out between Dr. Nguen and Taban Deng Gai in mid 1990s, the two officials have not been in one political camp for long, saying that Nguen evacuated Unity State due to fear of Taban whenever Taban was in power in Unity State.
“Now a days, Nguen would rather die sick in Unity State because that is where he feels safe. He can sneak to Juba for a few days but he cannot stay for long.” the official said.
“No, he does not feel safe under Taban leadership.” He continued.
Asked if Dr. Nguen is considering to join SPLM/SPLA-IO, the official argues that since militias under his command committed many atrocities against other Nuer sub-tribes, Nguen may not feel safe as well in SPLM/SPLA-IO and therefore he may exile himself to Khartoum until a political solutions or compromises are made to accommodate him.
The official believes that over 300 soldiers and officers, who recently defected to SPLA-IO in Mayom County, are loyal to Dr. Nguen Manytuil, a report Nyamilepedia could not independently verify.
Read: MORE GOVERNMENT SOLDIERS DEFECT TO SPLM/SPLA-IO
Dr. Nguen Manytuil has been accused by many senior officials on government side, including his brother who defected in September, 2016.
They said Dr. Nguen falsely accused his brother Lt. Gen. Bapiny Manytuil, Maj. Gen. Stephen Buay Rolyang and 46 other military officials and soldiers of “being enemies from within”.
Most of these officers were later arrested and scattered through new deployments to cut off their chain of communication.
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