South Sudan army commander joins Malong
South Sudan former SPLA Chief of General Staff and leader of South Sudan United Front/Army (SSUF/A) General Paul Malong appears while on a pickup vehicle (not seen) at a independence anniversary in Juba in 2016. (Photo credit: REUTERS)
May 11, 2020 (SSNN) – A South Sudan army commander announced on Monday that he was defecting from the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) to join former army chief General Paul Malong Awan who leads the South Sudan United Front/Army (SSUF/A)
Speaking to South Sudan News Now (SSNN) from northern Unity state on Tuesday morning, Maj. Gen. Monyjur Miakol Yor said he abandoned Kiir because of lack of vision to lead the country blaming him for the ongoing instability in the country.
“It is true yes I left the government of President Salva Kiir. You already know that the country is not taking our people. Most of the citizens including you are outside the country. This is because of the lack of leadership from President Salva Kiir which has led the people to flee the country,” General Monyjur said.
“As such, there is nothing to defend. We cannot defend a regime that kills its people. Salva Kiir is the one to blame for this mess,” he added.
Separately, Dickson Gatluak Joak, a senior member of the Malong-led SSUF/A confirmed to South Sudan News Now the defection saying General Monyjur defected to them along with the whole brigade in an area near Pariang county.
“Maj. Gen. Monyjur Miakol Yor switches his allegiance to SSUF/A yesterday from one of SSPDF brigade in Parieng county of unity region. He defected with more than 1000 men,” Gatluak said.
He said there were no confrontation with government forces because the whole brigade had defected with him saying they had just moved out of the base to avoid attacks from government forces which he said would be in violation to the ceasefire.
“There were no any confrontation between the forces because Gen.Miakol was the one in charge of the brigade however, there was no other force to resist. They just pulled out from the Barack and went to their respective location where they were directed by the leadership,” he said.
“In fact there is nothing to fear about because SSUF/A has a base already in Rubkotna under command of Brigadier General Koang Makuei Gatbel and Col. Nhial Tot Thoar,” he added.
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