Machar directs forces to cut contact with ex-SPLA-IO commander
File: South Sudan’s First Vice-president designate, Dr. Riek Machar, is pictured during an interview with Reuters in Rome, Italy, April 12, 2019. REUTERS/Yara Nardi.
March 17th 2020 (SSNN) — SPLM-IO leader and South Sudan’s First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny has ordered his forces to terminate all communications with ex-SPLA-IO commander to defected to presidemt Salva Kiir today.
Gen. James Koang Chuol, who spoke to reporters in Juba this afternoon while declaring his intention to defect to Kiir said he did so along with more senior opposition military officers.
Koang said the SPLM-IO had lost vision and that his decision to defect was triggered by the appointment of Angelina Teny, Machar’s wife and senior SPLM-IO member, as defense minister.
He directed forces said to be loyal to him to respect the revitalized ceasefire which has been holding since the signing of the revitalized peace agreement in September last year.
In a directive to his forces this afternon, Machar confirmed the defection and urged all his forces to “terminate all communications” with the defecting officers.
“This is to inform that a group of officers let by Lt. Gen. James Koang Chuol Ranley have declared their defection from the SPLA/SPLM (IO) to the SSPDF,” Machar said.
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