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Sudan Tribune

Plural news and views on Sudan

Former Upper Nile deputy governor joins armed opposition

September 9, 2016 (MABAN) – A former deputy governor of South Sudan’s oil-rich Upper Nile state has announced his defection to the country’s armed opposition faction (SPLM-IO).

South Sudan's rebel leader Riek Machar addresses a news conference in Uganda's capital Kampala January 26, 2016 (Reuters photo)
South Sudan’s rebel leader Riek Machar addresses a news conference in Uganda’s capital Kampala January 26, 2016 (Reuters photo)
Maj. Gen John Ivo Mounto, in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune, accused South Sudanese President Salva Kiir of allegedly ill-treating the country’s civilians.

“I’m here humbly to announce my defection from the SPLM in government under Dictator Salva Kiir Mayardit to the wise and visionary leader H.E Dr. Riek Machar Teny Dhurgon the legitimate first vice president of the republic of South Sudan, chairman, and commander in chief of the SPLM/SPLA-In opposition,” he said.

The former deputy governor claimed president Kiir has failed the country, resorting to “dictatorial leadership and mismanagement of the country resources and the torture of unarmed civilians”.

“The government of Salva Kiir has shown the worse part of its dictatorial misuse of power. It has time and again misused the resources of the people of South Sudan that should have been used to deliver service to the good people of South Sudan,” he stated.

He blamed the current government of forming a tribal based-group, which allegedly runs affairs of the country at the expense of citizens.

“The tribal regime with its tribal advisors, the Jieng Council of Elders got the country back to war once more. They are torturing the people of South Sudan daily and worst of all killing them for no apparent reasons just only to carry their tribal agenda,” he claimed.

He accused president Kiir of violating the peace deal by creating more states instead of the 10, which were the bases of the accord.

“Salva Kiir cut the land of the other tribes, especially those of Maban and gave it to his tribe-mate, the Dinka Abling. We the sons and daughters of greater Maban do reject this land grabbing by Salva Kiir and his JCE,” he further stressed.

The former deputy governor also condemned what he described as “conspiracy” of the recent appointment of former SPLM-IO chief negotiation Taban Deng Gai by president Kiir as a serious violation, adding “it is a way to continue with marginalization policy by JCE”.

“The government of South Sudan has continued to marginalize the people of greater Maban (Maban Kouma, Uduk Gajang , Borno Jomjom) from services and have taken their lands and gave it to his Dinka tribe. We the people of Maban regret this tribal move. We demand the land of people of Maban is given back to its right owners,” he said.

Mounto said he believes the SPLM-IO is the only legitimate organization that will bring change and reform in the young nation.

(ST)

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