Feb 26, 2017(Nyamilepedia) —— South Sudan’s former Minister of Interior, former Deputy Chairman and Deputy Commander in Chief of SPLM/A in Opposition, Lt. Gen. Alfred Lado Gore, was last seen on Wednesday, February 22nd, 2017.
Following defections of Lt. Gen. Thomas Cirillo Swaka, insiders report alleged that South Sudanese national security intelligence service disarmed Alfred Lado Gore and took away his passport on February 20th at 5pm, South Sudan local time.
That reports also alleged that the Security apparatus reduced the number of bodyguards of James Wani igga and left him with only “three Equotorian boys”.
According to unconfirmed reports extended to Nyamilepedia today, Gore has sneaked out of the capital with his bodyguards and headed to the bush to join rebellion.
This report indicate that Gore was received yesterday by the Sector Commander of SPLA-IO of Central Equatoria and he is expected to brief the media any time soon, a report Nyamilepedia could not independently verify.
Attempts to reach SPLA-IO spokesman of Central Equatoria were frustrated by poor network reception.
In Juba, supporters of Gore alleged that the powerful commander has reported to UNMISS camps in Juba; however, UNMISS has denied having knowledge of Lt. Gen. Gore under their protection.
Lado, a leading general of SPLA, defected with Dr. Machar in December 2013 and walked thousands miles across South Sudan to Ethiopia and remained a big heat in the opposition recruiting massively among the Equatorian Community until he returned to Juba in April last year as part of August 2015 peace agreement.
The general, who was skeptical about the peace deal, said when he arrived in Juba that they have sacrificed their lives and some could even die in the capital.
“I am not preoccupied with my safety… Leadership entails risks. We can even die.” Gore said but continued that none should die given that they have an agreement in place to implement.
Gore was right, more than 300 people were killed on July 8th alone and intense fighting continued for another two days until Dr. Machar and the soldiers tactically withdrawn from the capital, Juba.
Machar and part of his leadership, who were forced out, were pursued for 40 days to DRC border and fighting has continued in many parts of the country to these days.
When the war resumed in July 2016 in Juba, the elderly politicians and senior generals, who had no means, remained behind with a break away faction under Taban Deng Gai; however, Taban Deng Gai and a few of his friends sidelined those of Gen. Lado and Dr. Dhieu Mathok Ding.
Gore was removed from a powerful ministry of Interior and made the Minister of Housing in what was to be a coalition government or a “partial” transitional government of National Unity.
He made appearances on television a few times but his supporters believe that he was being coerced to speak negatively against SPLM/A-IO in favor of the ruling regime in Juba, a report that was recently confirmed by Lt. Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam.
In an interview with Lt. Gen. Duop Lam, the deputy chief of staff for operation of SPLM/SPLA-IO, he said those SPLM/A-IO politicians in Juba are being forced to speak out to government controlled media against their will.
Lt. Gen. Duop defected and returned to his position in SPLM/A-IO, however, positions like those of Deputy Chairman were recently filled or reshuffled.
Within the last two months, many officials have resigned and defected from the government as war intensifies in Upper Nile and Equatoria.
South Sudan conflict started in December 2013 and the young country has suffered some of the worst atrocities, human rights violations, genocides and now famine as war enters its forth year.
2 comments
i agree with Rebecca’s idea that salva should step down because he is the one causing all these suffering in the country due to his poor governance.
where is Gore? he should speak and clear the air if he is in Juba in order for people to reduce anxiety.