By Staff Writer
At least 221 Sudan People’s Liberation Army-In Opposition (SPLA-IO) personnel have defected to the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) and other organized forces.
National Security Service (NSS) revealed this in a press release that those who defected are under the command of eight senior officers who were previously part of the SPLA-IO’s integrated forces.
They were reportedly stationed and trained in various locations, including Gutmakur, Muni, Luri, Rajaf, and Rombur.
“The National Security Services is contented to inform the public that it has received forces allied to the SPLA-IO ranks and files after their defection to the SSPDF and other organized forces of the South Sudan Government,” the statement stated.
The NSS attributed the defection to the recent clashes between the SPLA-IO, its allied forces including the White Army, and the SSPDF.
The defecting commanders, the statement said, “denounced plunging the country back into civil war” and signed official documents declaring their allegiance to the government forces.
“In this light, the National Security Service is contented to have received the forces and assures their safety and security is guaranteed while their official integration into the SSPDF and other organized forces is expedited and equally urged other forces that are not part and parcel of the SSPDF and other organized forces to denounce violence and choose peace avail themselves for purpose of integration into the national army,” The NSS said.
The NSS also used the press release to dismiss recent reports from “several organizations, mostly foreign,” which have painted a picture of a volatile security and political environment in South Sudan.
The NSS labeled the reports as “baseless and unfounded,” claiming they are intended to “perpetuate terror and anxiety” among the population.
“The NSS assures the public that the country is safe and stable, and that businesses and other private and national activities are proceeding as usual,” the statement concluded.
The defection comes at a time of heightened tensions in South Sudan, with concerns over the implementation of the 2018 revitalized peace agreement.
The integration of the defecting forces into the SSPDF will be a key test of the government’s commitment to the peace agreement and its ability to maintain stability.