Another senior SPLA-IO officer abandons Machar

Another defection has gripped SPLA-IO after a senior officer shifted allegiance from Riek Machar to a Kitgwang-like movement.

Lt. Col. Preach Puok Gatduel joined the Joknyang Declaration formed by Gen. Tito Biel, who recently defected to the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces under the command of President Salva Kiir.

In a statement seen by The City Review, Col. Sacristan Zoal Wal, Joknyang Declaration Spokesperson, said Puok accused the SPLM-IO Chairman of personalizing the party.

“He said the reasons behind his defection from the SPLM/A-IO was that Dr Riek Machar took the party as a family project and has become too reluctant in the leadership particular on the military wing,” the statement partly read.

The statement claimed that Machar defies the party’s protocol when it comes to promotion adding that, junior officers were prioritized ahead of the more senior party members.

“Dr Machar mixed up the former SPLA protocol he’s supposed to use in promoting and turned it inside out. For example, he promoted Turuk Khor and left Gen. Tito Biel Wieh who was a colonel when Gen. Tito Biel With Luny was at that time a Brigadier,” it claimed.

“The representation of the party in the national level as the party share at the R-TGoNU wasn’t brought public for the party members to decide who gets which position, Dr Riek Machar nominated his family members leaving all the rest like they never participated in the struggle,” the statement added.

He claimed that the most powerful people within the SPLA/SPLM-IO were Machar’s associates and relatives.   

“Dr Riek Machar Teny conferred all powers to close relatives, the likes of Ziling Kek interfere even in military duties,” the group claimed. This made Ziling despise even those greater than him in ranking. The only regretful moment is the moment spent with Dr Riek Machar Teny,” he said.