Late John Garang’s son denies rebellion against SPLM

October 7, 2012 (JUBA) – The eldest son of the late founder of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A), Mabior Garang de Mabior, has denied rumours that he had defected from the SPLM and joined the rebel leader, David Yauyau, who is based in his home state of Jonglei and battling the government’s forces.

Rumours have been circulating for a month alleging that Mabior, the son of late John Garang de Mabior, who lives in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, had joined the rebellion and was supporting the rebel leader to overthrow the government led by Salva Kiir Mayardit.

The allegations surfaced following an interview Mabior conducted in Nairobi last month with an international media in which he openly criticized South Sudanese leadership and encouraged peaceful popular uprising to remove it from power.

In an interview with the US-based McClatchy Newspapers, on August 31st, Mabior expressed his disappointment in the current leadership, accusing it of working against the wishes of his late father.

On Sunday the late leader’s son confirmed his disapproval of the status quo in the leadership but denied allegations that he supports an armed rebellion.

In statements broadcasted on 98.6 FM radio in Juba, he further explained that he did not join the rebellion of David Yauyau and did not encourage the armed struggle to remove the current government but prefers a peaceful change.

Mabior in his statement said there is what he called internal conflicts within the SPLM and that he did not approve the way the current leadership runs the affairs of the nation.

He however said that such internal conflicts could be reconciled using the example of the past where the SPLM resolved such difference through dialogue and reconciliation.

(ST)