S. Sudan rebel leader appoints first commander for Lakes state

February 3, 2015 (JUBA) – South Sudan’s former vice-president turned rebel leader Riek Machar has appointed Khamis Abdel-latif as the commander of opposition forces in Lakes state after he was elevated to the rank of Major General.

Until he changed allegiance from the government following a powerful struggle with information and broadcasting minister, Michael Makuei Lueth, Abdel-latif was a Brigadier General in the national police service. He later defected to the rebel movement following a power struggle with minister Lueth.

Abdel-latif also served as an advisor at the ministry of interior before being removed along with several other officials by presidential decree.

He was later appointed as director for South Sudan Radio and Television.

Abdel-latif was among former a group of political detainees arrested by the government in 2013 when political debates within the governing Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) turned violence, prompting president Salva Kiir and members of his government to accuse Machar of attempting to seize power militarily.

Machar has repeatedly denied the charge, countering with accusation that Kiir himself wanted to stifle internal debate over democratic forms in the country and had orchestrated the current conflict in an attempt to silence his opponents and those pushing for changes.

Abdel-latif was appointed as commander of Lakes state forces in an executive order dated 21 January.

He is expected to be deployed to the area soon, according to the head of the rebel faction’s foreign affairs committee, Dhieu Mathok Diing Wol.

(ST)