South Sudanese officials in Canada join rebellion

August 4, 2014 (JUBA) – A group of South Sudanese officials in Canada have joined the rebel faction led by former vice-president Riek Machar, accusing president Salva Kiir of allegedly starting the rebellion in order to retain power.

“We, the South Sudanese citizens from Bahr el Ghazal in Canada, are concerned of the ongoing conflict in our country, and we believe that the current conflict has been imposed on the people of South Sudan by the government of the dictator Salva Kiir Mayardit,”said the group in an open letter to Machar.

“We also believe that the resistance army you are leading in South Sudan was imposed by the same dictator and his groups who want their personal interests by all means,” adds the 1 August letter.

They further claimed president Kiir had lost legitimacy having allegedly killed the very innocent civilians he was meant to protect.

“Since December 2013, we believe that Salva Kiir has lost his legitimacy as a president of the republic of South Sudan, because he killed his citizens who elected him to the office in 2010 elections, and that is why we are no longer giving him the title of president in this message. He should have apologised and resigned in December to preserve his dignity,” the letter said.

South Sudan descended into violence late last year after a dispute arose between the presidential guards in Juba. Since then, thousands have been killed and 1.3 million displaced in the seven month conflict. Last month, aid agencies warned of looming famine in the country unless the two warring sides peacefully end the war.

“We have been mobilising our people since January 2014, in diaspora and in Bahr el Ghazal region to be aware that the current war is not between Dinka and Nuer nor it is between government and the targeted officials for a false story of concocted and imaginative coup as it was claimed,” the Canadian group said.

It is a war for democratic reforms against incompetent president who has misruled the country and showed reluctance to implement the SPLM vision, their letter noted.

Col. Kon Mou Bol, Major Akec Fabio Goi, Kuot Wol Wol, Lual Mathok Diing Wol, Albino Mawien Bol Bol, Riem Maming Buong, Kon Wino Majok Awaj, Garang Kuac Yel and Garang Wol Aguoth, were among the South Sudanese in Canada who joined rebellion.

USA CHAPTER

The entire leadership of the US branch of the ruling party officially declared on 2 July that they were switching allegiance to the country’s rebels, calling for regime change through military means.

In a press statement extended to Sudan Tribune, the SPLM party leadership in the US said they made the decision following a painstaking process to evaluate the various political scenarios facing the young nation and its ongoing deterioration in recent months.

(ST)