SPLM-IO official claims gov’t soldiers defected to rebels
By Tesfa-Alem Tekle
March 9, 2016 (ADDIS ABABA) – A group of South Sudanese government troops have defected and joined the Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement-In-Opposition (SPLM-IO) led by Riek Machar, an rebel official told Sudan Tribune Wednesday.
The opposition official did not, however, mention total numbers of those who allegedly defected to the rebels in Sobat, but insisted that the defectors were “very many”.
“After the group arrived, they were received by the SPLM-IO emergency joint patrolling team stationed in Ketbeek. The government then followed and demanded to take back those who surrendered, but the move was rejected by the forces of SPLA-IO,” said Tiem.
According to the opposition official, government forces opened fire on the SPLA-IO forces in Ketbek station after the opposition group’s patrolling team who received the defectors refused to hand over those who defected.
“Fighting erupted and the government force were chased and repulsed back to their base in Wechyaradiw,” he said.
He further alleged that government forces launched offensive shelling and bombarded SPLM-IO positions on Wednesday in Pandanyang, NorDeng, Dhoreding and this was followed by subsequent attacks at rebel bases in Ketbeek.
“The government forces in Wechyaradiw have been defecting to SPLM-IO one by one three months ago and continue until yesterday”, said Tiem.
They defectors allegedly claimed they abandoned their base in protest against harsh conditions, lack of food and other necessary supplies within their Wechyaradiw base.
The army has, however, not officially reacted to claims allegedly made by the defectors.
The two South Sudanese rival factions on Tuesday traded fresh accusations of military confrontations in Upper Nile’s Nasir county in violation of last year’s peace deal.
(ST)