Top ethnic Anyuak youth leader defects to rebels
April 5, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) – A top youth leader from the minority Anyuak ethnic group of Pochalla county in the newly created Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) has declared defection to the rebel faction of the Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO) led by Riek Machar.
Medho Toung Medho, leader of the Anyuak youth in Juba, declared his defection in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, on Tuesday after escaping from the South Sudanese capital this week.
In a press statement extended to Sudan Tribune, the top youth leader accused president Salva Kiir’s government of tribalism, lack of vision and waging war against the people of South Sudan. He called on all the youth groups in Pibor area to rise up against the government.
“I am taking this opportunity to declare my intention to join the SPLM/SPLA under the visionary leadership of Dr. Riek Machar Teny,” he said.
“As a South Sudanese youth leader disappointed by Kiir’s leadership, I am convinced that the time is right for all of the young people from the newly created Pibor state to join the people’s movement in order to bring about much needed change in our communities,” partly reads the statement.
The former youth leader in government added that he was attracted to the vision of the SPLM-IO which also sought, among others, to establish a federal system of governance with 21 states in addressing ethnic diversity and equitable distribution of wealth in the country.
He further accused president Kiir of neglecting his Anyuak community of Pochalla county, arguing that not even a single official was appointed to the cabinet in Juba.
He also claimed that president Kiir’s government has refused to promote Anyuak army officers despite their performances in the army.
Before returning to Juba from the diaspora and taking new assignment as Anyuak youth leader in the country, Medho was previously the overall Anyuak youth representative in the diaspora, including USA, Canada, Australia and Europe.
He said he would now mobilize the youth in the country and from the diaspora to join the rebel movement and remove president Kiir from power.
Medho, who holds a Bachelors degree in international relations, is the second top youth leader to have defected to the rebel faction in less than a month.
(ST)