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ADDIS ABABA - 21 May 2019

Ex-Latjor state minister defects to Machar's group

Dech Kuek Jokthiang, former minister of physical infrastructure in Latjor state, declared his loyalty to the opposition group SPLM-IO led by opposition chief Riek Machar after defecting from the government.

 “I have defected from the SPLM-IO faction under the leadership of General Taban and joined the SPLM-IO led by Dr. Riek Machar Teny because Taban reunited with the SPLM led by President Salva Kiir,” he told Radio Tamazuj from Addis Ababa on Tuesday.

Jokthiang said he decided to rejoin Machar after the country’s first vice president Taban Deng Gai decided to dissolve the SPLM-IO faction in Juba and reunite with President Kiir’s SPLM party.

He said the 2015 peace agreement was not implemented by President Salva Kiir and his first deputy Taban Deng Gai.

“Nothing was implemented in Juba that’s why I decided to join Dr Riek Machar, maybe the peace agreement will be implemented through him, “he said.

“I support peace, I don’t want war anymore. I decided to rejoin SPLM-IO under the leadership of Dr Riek Machar because the SPLM-IO faction under Taban had been dissolved,” he added.

On its part, the SPLM-IO office in neighboring Ethiopia welcomed the decision taken by the former state minister of physical infrastructure to join the opposition group.

“On behalf of the SPLM-I office, we welcome Dech to the people's movement,” said Koat Gatkuoth Thoat, the SPLM-IO coordinator in Ethiopia.

South Sudan President Salva Kiir and opposition leaders failed to form a new government as stipulated in the peace agreement by May 12. The formation of the unity government was extended by six months to November.