By William Madouk
More than 300 officers from the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-In Opposition (SPLA-IO), led by First Vice President Riek Machar, have defected to the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) under President Salva Kiir.
The defectors include 259 National Security Service (NSS) personnel from the Gut-Makur training center in Western Equatoria State and 48 troops from the Wunlet training center in Central Equatoria State.
Brigadier General Justin Mark Katuru, commanding officer of the NSS, officially announced the group’s allegiance to the government forces.
“We, the undersigned 259 officers, non-commissioned officers, and personnel of the NSS under SPLM/A-IO in sector six, division 9B, brigade 4 Tambura and Nagero, hereby declare our allegiance to the National Security Service under President Salva Kiir Mayardit and the commander-in-chief of the SSPDF and other regular forces,” Gen. Katuru said.
Citing deep frustration with what they described as growing tribalism, sectarianism, and nepotism within the SPLM/A-IO, the officers expressed hope that under SPLM leadership, they can contribute to a unified and fair security structure for all South Sudanese.
Brigadier General John Lubari Yakobo, who led the 48 defectors from Central Equatoria, said the move was motivated by a desire to ease the suffering of civilians.
David John Kumuri, spokesperson for the NSS Internal Security Bureau, welcomed the defections and emphasized the government’s commitment to integrating all armed factions into a single national army.
“The National Security Service welcomes this decision and assures the safety and security of the defectors, as well as their swift integration into the SSPDF and other regular forces,” Kumuri stated.
This latest defection comes just weeks after more than 2,000 personnel from the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA), led by Brigadier General Samir Ibrahim David, joined government forces. That group included 105 army officers, 650 police, 668 prison service personnel, 400 wildlife officers, and 506 fire brigade members.