Military officials confirmed on Monday that the defectors came from Khor Fulus in Jonglei State and the Alel military training camp in Upper Nile State. The coordinated defections raise fresh concerns about the stability of South Sudan’s fragile peace process.
‘Peace Is the Only Way Forward’
Maj. Gen. James Koang Wieu, who led one of the defecting groups, said he left the SPLA-IO due to its growing deviation from peace efforts.
“Some people are taking us back to war, while I am interested in peace and unity,” Koang told Radio Tamazuj. “Elections are the only way forward for power transfer.”
He revealed that his group consisted of 171 soldiers, and urged remaining SPLA-IO forces to lay down their arms and join the national peace initiative.
Total of 209 Fighters Defect
Maj. Gen. Michael Majok, commander of the SSPDF Division 2 in Malakal, said a total of 209 SPLA-IO fighters defected. The second group, led by Col. Nhial Tap, included 38 fighters.
Majok praised local leaders and the Upper Nile state government for their role in persuading the fighters to defect and reintegrate into the national army.
Upper Nile Military Governor Applauds Move
The military governor of Upper Nile State, Gen. James Koang Chuol, welcomed the move, calling it a “courageous decision”.
“The country needs stability, peace, and development—not instability,” he said, calling on other SPLA-IO members to follow suit.
The SPLA-IO, a principal signatory to the 2018 peace agreement, has struggled to complete the security arrangements, particularly the unification of forces into a single national army—a cornerstone of the peace deal that led to the formation of a unity government in 2020.
Analysts Warn of Increased Instability
Despite the defections being celebrated by the SSPDF, political analysts warn they could further destabilize the country, as tensions remain high between rival factions and key provisions of the peace agreement remain unfulfilled.
The SPLA-IO spokesperson Col. Lam Paul Gabriel could not be immediately reached for comment.
