Dr Machar loses more members to SPLM-IG

Twenty-four former members of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) have accused their leader, Dr. Riek Machar, of playing egocentric and “deceptive politics”.

After defecting to South Sudan Defense Force (SSPDF), the group claimed that Dr. Machar had been playing deceptive political games to satisfy his interest.

Maj. Gen. Michael Dak Riek, the former security advisor of the defunct Phou State, claimed that Dr. Machar let down junior officers and failed to live up to his promises by abandoning his fighters after securing his seat.

 “It is clear that the opposition leader Dr. Riek Machar uses people to achieve his political interest and abandons them once he achieved it,” the statement read partly and dated January 5, 2022.

“He is used to deception politics of giving empty promises to his subordinates to fight his wars while he has already prepared his relatives for political positions to be appointed once his will is realised,” the defectors revealed.

They claimed that Dr. Machar is known for creating what they called “senseless movements” that include the  Nasir Declaration, SPLM/A Nasir Faction, SPLM/SPLA– United SSIM/SSIA. The SSDF [was] formed after the Khartoum peace accord and finally the SPLM/A I.O which they claimed polarised South Sudanese and even Nuer among themselves.

“This evidence signifies that Cde. Riek is an unreliable leader who cannot be trusted any longer and it shall be up to those who are still blind to see his failure, and we the political leaders of Gawaar with our community have decided to declare our allegiance to SPLM – IG under the wise and able leadership of Cde. Salva Kiir Mayardiit,”  the group said.

Defection declaration

“We have finally realised Riek’s trick of using people as tools to achieve his political will, for instance during the formation of the national unity government he left out all our sons and daughters who stood with him during his political war.”

They finally claimed, “Dr. Riek had spent 30 years on power struggle but failed to achieve it because of his failed administrative skills and the dictatorial tendency of not taking any beneficial idea from anyone.”

Rebuffs accusations

When contacted for comment, the SPLM-IO Spokesperson Puok Both Baluang who serves as Dr. Machar’s Press Secretary denied all the accusations against his boss, referring to the decision taken by the group as a “violation” deliberately done to derail the implementation of the peace agreement.

Baluang said Dr. Machar was not the reason behind the slow pace of peace implementation that has caused great suffering to the SPLA-IO forces in cantonment and training sites prompting defections in the country.

 “We must refute all the false allegations stated by those defectors. These are false allegations that have been cited by all the defectors from SPLM/A-IO. Instead of blaming the SPLM/A-IO leadership, let them blame the party which is behind all these which is SPLM-IG or the SSPDF,”

“There are harsh situation our forces are endearing at cantonment sites and training centres due to lack of  resources  such as food and medicines because the NTC does not release money for the purchase of the necessities to make cantonment sites and training centres conducive for the forces,”  

Speaking to The City Review on Sunday evening, Mr Baluang then called on the ruminant forces still loyal to Dr Machar to uphold the faith and remain committed, looking forward to the achievement of movement’s goal of lasting peace and stability in the country.  

He said September 2018 revitalised peace agreement remains the only hope to address all the root causes of the conflict in South Sudan, which should be implemented in later and spirit. Baluang blamed rampant defections within SPLM/A-IO on their main opponent.

“This is lack of political will from our partner to implement the peace agreement, particularly the SPLM-IG. This agreement has been slow in terms of implementation. We should put the interest of our people first as a priority instead of playing political games that they are trying to achieve through the deployment of implementing the agreement,” he said.