A South Sudanese armed forces commander said he had defected amongst to a greater extent than than 200 soldiers to the country's largest rebel group, among a showdown betwixt President Salva Kiir in addition to his onetime armed forces chief.
Lieutenant Colonel Chan Garang, an ally of onetime regular army primary Paul Malong, defected to bring together the largest rebel grouping fighting Kiir, he said. All 3 men are ethnic Dinkas in addition to whatsoever split inside the powerful grouping could correspond a threat to Kiir.
The four-year civil state of war has split the province into a patchwork of fiefdoms, created Africa's biggest refugee crisis inwards ii decades in addition to led to ethnic cleansing. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 3rd of the 12 million-strong population has fled their homes in addition to one-half are theme on nutrient aid.
In May, Kiir fired Malong, whom U.N. investigators defendant of directing ethnic militias responsible for the rape, torture in addition to murder of civilians. Malong, who is also on a USA sanctions list, briefly fled northward only returned to the capital, where he has been nether solid arrest e'er since.
Over the weekend, Kiir's troops surrounded Malong's solid inwards Juba in addition to unsuccessfully attempted to disarm his bodyguards. An armed standoff continues exterior his house.
Garang is the showtime Malong loyalist to bring together the rebels. Garang said he defected because allies of Malong's were beingness badly treated, troops had non been paid for 7 months in addition to other tribes were beingness discriminated against.
"I left Juba because when are you lot are a supporter of Paul Malong, you lot volition hold out arrested," Garang told Reuters via satellite phone.
"We are preparing our regular army then that nosotros tin launch an assail on Juba. Salva Kiir divided the tribes then nosotros demand him to go.”
Garang told Reuters he took to a greater extent than than 200 soldiers amongst him, although a rebel press unloose pose the let out at 150. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 photograph provided past times the rebels showed to a greater extent than than xxx armed men only their identities were unclear.
Army spokesman Lul Ruai Koang said they were non aware of whatsoever defection from their ranks.
Malong was unreachable past times phone, only his married adult woman Lucy Ayak distanced her married adult man from the defected commander.
" is non happy amongst the authorities in addition to he has deserted. Why is he maxim it is the termination of General Malong?" she asked Reuters.
South Sudan's state of war began inwards Dec 2013 betwixt troops loyal to Kiir in addition to rebels of onetime vice president Riek Machar, a Nuer.
Oyet Nathaniel, a senior rebel official, told Reuters that anyone deciding to bring together them against Kiir is a "welcome development," regardless of their background.
There are several rebel groups, only none of them is well-funded or well-armed.
Reuters