South Sudan Army General Defects to SPLA-IO, Cites Genocide and Corruption
High-Ranking SSPDF Officer Joins Opposition Forces
MALAKAL – In a significant development in South Sudan’s ongoing political tensions, Brig. Gen. James Gatjiath, a senior officer in the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF), has defected to the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO). The defection was confirmed by both the general and the rebel group on Tuesday.
The former operations commander for the SSPDF’s 1st Infantry Division in Upper Nile cited concerns about “genocide” and “corruption” against ethnic groups as his primary reasons for switching sides. In a phone interview with Sudans Post, Gatjiath stated he was distancing himself from potential future accountability for these alleged crimes.
Defector’s Allegations Against Government
Gatjiath made serious accusations against President Salva Kiir Mayardit’s administration, claiming: “Salva Kiir has handed over the country to Uganda and because of the impending genocide and the current corruption, I have to distance myself from future accountability.”
The general alleged collaboration between South Sudan’s government and neighboring Uganda to plan what he described as genocide. He maintained his current location was “inside the country,” though he declined to provide specific details.
SPLA-IO Confirms Defection and Additional Surrenders
The SPLA-IO officially welcomed Gatjiath through a statement from their spokesperson, Col. Lam Paul Gabriel. The statement also revealed that approximately 40 armed youth, allegedly conscripted by the government from prisons in Juba and Malakal, had surrendered to opposition forces in Ulang County.
Lam encouraged other dissatisfied SSPDF soldiers to follow Gatjiath’s example, urging them to join what he called “the people’s movement” rather than “being used by the Elites in Juba for personal and political purposes.”
Background on Recent Conflict in the Region
The defection comes amid ongoing tensions in Upper Nile state. Ulang County, where the youth reportedly surrendered, was previously part of Nasir before becoming a separate administrative unit. Nasir was the site of recent clashes between SSPDF forces and the White Army, a Nuer youth militia that allied with the SPLA-IO during South Sudan’s 2013-2018 civil war.
This development represents another challenge to the fragile peace process in South Sudan, where political and ethnic divisions continue to fuel instability despite various peace agreements.
Source: Original report on Sudans Post