Former SPLM chief whip abandons armed opposition

March 10, 2015 (JUBA) – Banguot Amum, a sister to the former secretary general of South Sudan’s ruling party, Pagan Amum has abandoned rebellion and returned to Juba.

A member of the opposition delegation at the talks mediated by the East African regional bloc (IGAD), Banguot joined the armed opposition faction in December 2013.

She previously served as the SPLM chief whip in the national legislative assembly.

Anne Itto, SPLM’s acting secretary said Banguot returned in response to the amnesty extended by South Sudanese president Salva Kiir to all the country’s armed forces.

The amnesty office announced last month will expire at the end of March.

“She returned because of her disappointment in the direction that the rebels are taking,” Itto told reporters in Juba on Tuesday.

However, other sources say the death of Banguot’s father may have forced her abandon the opposition. Amum Okeich, a former paramount chief, died last weekend.

NO DIVISIONS, REBEL SAYS

Meanwhile, the chairperson for information and public relations committee within the rebel faction dismissed as “negative propaganda” reports of divisions in the opposition.

“The SPLM/SPLA would also like to take this opportunity to assure members that the negative propaganda emanating from Kampala, alleging that the leadership of the SPLM/SPLA is divided are baseless and wishful thinking of Juba and Kampala,” Mabior Garang said in a he statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Monday.

Last week, eight junior officials in the rebel camp, including George Amum, brother of the former SPLM secretary general, defected from the opposition and returned to Juba.

The surprise moved also came two weeks after the former rebel military spokesman, Lul Ruai Koang, deserted his assignment in the rebel movement and joined government.

(ST)