Former South Sudan newspaper chief editor joins SPLM-IO

February 7, 2016 (JUBA) – A former South Sudanese outspoken newspaper chief editor has officially declared joining the armed opposition faction of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO) under the leadership of former Vice-President, Riek Machar.

Nhial Bol Akeen, former chief editor of The Citizen newspaper told Sudan Tribune on Saturday that he was not officially joining the SPLM-IO as a new member, claiming that he was actually working from within for the SPLM-IO.

“I did not join them [SPLM-IO], I was with them,” Akeen told Sudan Tribune when asked to confirm reports he has joined the armed opposition under the leadership of the former vice president Machar.

The secretary general of the movement, Dhieu Mathok Diing Wol, also confirmed Akeen has joined his group and commended the former veteran journalist for making a decision to champion change.

Wol said Akeen spoke to the opposition’s top leader, Machar on Saturday in Cairo, Egypt, to declare his decision.

Akeen last year declared he was quitting journalism due to bad relationship between his media outlet and the government.

His newspaper, The Citizen, has been critical of the government of President Salva Kiir for many years. The paper faced many suspensions and confiscation of its copies whenever it carried a story critical of the government and its leadership.

(ST)