Press Release: Declaration of Allegiance from SPLM/A I.O To SPLM-IG

Ayod, Jonglei State,

Feb 5, 2022 — With due respect and distinct pleasure, we would like to inform the people of South Sudan, leadership and members of SPLM/A in Opposition that we have withdrawn our loyalty and support from the SPLM/A in opposition led by the First Vice president Dr. Riek Machar Teny and rejoining SSPDF and the main SPLM party led by our most wise leader H.E Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardiit, Chairman of the Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM) , the commander in Chief of South Sudan People Defense Force (SSPDF) and the President of the Republic of South Sudan .

The group is led by Maj. Gen. Michael Dak Riek Kol, Former security advisor of the defunct Phou State has decided to rejoin SSPDF and the ruling party for numerous political reasons. The group comprises more than thousands troop, high-ranking political elites, military Generals, Officers, NCOs and men who will play a great political role in Ayod County and South Sudan at large. The declaration involves chiefs, leaders of white army and members of the community.

The following are the main reasons/ grievances that led to the decision to rejoin the ruling party/ rankings and files of SSPDF from the group.

1. It is obviously clear that the opposition leader Dr. Riek Machar uses people to achieve his political interest and abandoned them once he achieved it.
2. He is used to deception politics of giving empty promises to his subordinates to fight his wars while he has already prepared his relatives for political positions to be appointed once his will is realized.
3. He owned the party into a family or personal enterprise, because all the governance decisions are made by his close relatives and not the party political bureau, for example he is the First Vice president, his wife is the defense minister, his nephew Lt. Gen Yiey Dak is the Director General of National Security (NSS) in opposition, and Hon. Puot Kang Chuol the minister of petroleum is being manipulated and directed by Angelina Teny in order to accumulate wealth. his son in-law Hon. Elizabeth Acuei is the minister of health and his uncle’s son Maj. Gen. Dheling keak Chuol is the Director General of military intelligence I.O, Lt. Gen Thomas Jal Thomas is the inspector of Police in opposition as his son In-law.
4. He has planted deep rooted hatred and tribalism among tribes in South Sudan and the Nuer community in particular have become victims and vulnerable of his failed ideologies and personal interest.
5. In 1991 he broke away from the main SPLM /A and created Nasir declaration which brought conflict and ethnic killings between the Nuer and the Dinka Bor which cause disunity with in Jonglei State as well entire South Sudanese in general, almost ruin our struggle, later on, he also set different Nuer clans to fight themselves with weak and maladministration.

Under Nasir declaration, he went on to form the following senseless movements;

SPLM/A Nasir Faction

SPLM/SPLA – United

SSIM/SSIA

The SSDF formed after the Khartoum peace accord.

SPDF and finally formed SPLM/A I.O, the current movement.

All these movements acted against each other, they have brought suffering among the people of greater Upper Nile and Nuer in particular.

Now that the revitalized peace agreement is being implemented in Juba, he has formed another separate group outside to continue laying obstacles and placing threads on the course of peace implementation in greater Upper Nile – areas of Lou, Gawaar, Jikany and Bentiu and it happened to be among these groups who were to implement this illegal plan which we finally deny.

His intention is to become president or continue to kill South Sudanese if we don’t allow him to lead.

He has made the Nuer community to be mistruths by their fellow South Sudanese that would take some years to restore love, peace and unity among the other South Sudanese tribes by leading them into wars with other South Sudanese since 1991 up to the present date.

He has erased the great legacy made by brave Nuer sons and daughters during our 1983 struggle with senseless and failed rebellions.

Many brave Nuer elders and Generals died in refugee camps across the   neighboring countries as well in the bush, due to his senseless war decision. He is lucky because the killing was generalized by saboteurs to the government in Juba otherwise, some Nuer men and fellow women would have not left their government to followed him during the crisis and uses slogan Nuer were genocide by Dinka regime.

His created wars and failed rebellion have led to the death of the following brave sons of South Sudan whom we still miss to date.

Here are the heroes that we lost in his cause.

1. Cde.  Kerbino Kuanyin Bol
2. Cde. William Nyuon Bany
3. Cde.  Arok Thon Arok
4. Cde. John Kulang Puot
5. Cde. Elijah Hon Top
6. Cde. Joseph Oduoh
7. Cde. Kuach Kang
8. Cde. Gordon Koang Banypieny
9. Cde. Peter Panom Thanypieny

And many more other comrades not mentioned here lost their lives due to his wars of personal interest.

This evidence  signifies  that Cde. Riek is an unreliable leader who cannot be trusted any longer, it shall be up to those who are still blind to see his failure, and we the political leaders of Gawaar with our community have decided to declare our allegiance to SPLM – IG under the wise and able leadership of cde. Salva Kiir Mayardiit.

We have finally realized Riek’s trick of using people as tools to achieve his political will, for instance during the formation of the national unity government he left out all our sons and daughters who stood with him during his political war.

Dr. Riek has spent thirty-two (32) years on power struggle but terribly failed to achieve because of his failed administration skills and dictatorial tendency of not taking any beneficial idea from any one, he always chooses war over peace, a war he doesn’t plan well and win moreover.

Finally, we thanked and applauded Cde. Salva Kiir Mayardiit for valuing the lives of our people and always choosing peace over war. And forgiveness over revenge.

We shall continue to mobilize members of the Gawaar community to abandon Cde. Riek and his failed movement and rally behind Cde. Salva Kiir Mayardiit so that he can continue to implement the mission and vision of our mighty party which was formulated by our late chairman Dr. John Garang De-Mabior.

South Sudan – Oyeee

H.E Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardiit – Oyeee

Signed: ____________________________

Maj. Gen. Michael Dak Riek Kol

Leader of Ayod Declaration.

List of Senior officers of Ayod Declaration

S/No Rank Name in full

1. Maj. Gen Michael Dak Riek Kol
2. Maj. Gen. Simon Dak Puoch Lok
3. Maj. Gen. Peter Meat Ker Toang
4. Maj. Gen. Lul Gatluak Dual Diu
5. Brig. Gen. Moses Jop Chuol Riek
6. Brig. Gen. Gatkor Wan Reat
7. Brig. Gen. Tunyal Kay 
8. Brig. Gen. James Tang Kuol Thoar
9. Brig. Gen. Dak Nien Nguen
10. Brig. Gen. Nyak Tap Toang 
11. Brig. Gen. Koat Guet Chany
12.  Col. Kuon Gatluak Ngieyngiey
13.  Col. Gatdin Wuor Kuoth
14.  Col. William Deng Reath Top
15.  Col. Puok Gatluak Diu 
16.  Col. Elizabeth Pajok Thong Both
17.  Col. Wakbar Gatwec Theam
18.  Col. Reath Chak Chom
19.  Col. Lam Mayiel Tiop
20.  Col. Koak Bipal Koak Maluth
21.  Col. Both Diu Mabiel
22.  Col. Gatpan Reat Lual
23.  Col. Peter Koak Maroap
24.  Col. Martha Nyakuol Gatwech Bath