By Bosco Bush
At least nine (9) members of the National Salvation Front (NAS) have deserted their camp and joined South Sudan Peoples Defense Forces (SSPDF) in Morobo County, Central Equatoria State.
Morobo County Commissioner, Charles Data confirmed that a group led by a Major General joined the government during his first days in charge of the county authority as the Commissioner.
He added that the defectors came with more ammunition, including Rocket-Propelled Grenades.
He said the defectors are currently in the county, pending completion of integration into the (SSPDF) units.
“Within 3 days of my being in office, we received nine (9) NAS rebels who came with their arms, and they’ve come with more guns than their number. They came with AK47 and they’ve some RPGs (Rocket-Propelled Grenades),” Data said.
After the first group, Data disclosed that recently another group of seven (7) led by a Colonel also came and they held a meeting in Bazi town together with the county authorities and discussed more potential defections of at least 120 NAS rebels within this week.
“Last Monday (September 16th), another group of seven (7), this group came and we left them to go back. We had a meeting with them in Bazi, and they said, they have a number of one hundred and twenty (120) soldiers,” he added.
“The group was led by a Colonel, and we’re waiting for them within this week. I think they went to arrange themselves so that they come in big number,” Data disclosed.
Commissioner Data believes that these latest developments are occurring as a result of the peace messages that he regularly broadcasts during his tours to meet people at the grassroots level in the Payams and Bomas of Morobo County.
He describes the situation as “peaceful” and urges both the state and national government to support Morobo County in finding lasting peace to the communities in the area.