The former Director General of state-run South Sudan Television and Radio (SSTV/SSR) Khamis Abdel-Latif has dismissed claims that he defected to the SPLM-IO rebels in Nairobi.

Khamis told El Maugif daily newspaper Wednesday that the claims that he had joined the group are baseless.

“I will never rebel because I am a strong supporter of President Salva Kiir and I believe in his leadership,” he said.

The official explained that he travelled to the Kenyan capital Nairobi after receiving permission by the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Information George Garang to visit his son who is sick.

Khamis further said he will come back to Juba on Saturday. “So whoever wants to confirm that I haven’t defected to the rebels should come to the Juba Airport on Saturday,” he said.

In early November, a disagreement occurred between Khamis Abdel-Latif and the Minister of Information Michael Makuei when the latter issued a ministerial order transferring Khamis from his position at the SSTV to the ministry headquarters.

South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir in September issued a presidential decree appointing Khamis Abdel-Latif Chawoul Lom as Director General for South Sudan Radio and Television in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

Khamis challenged the ministerial order questioning whether it could overturn the presidential order of his appointment.

The former SSTV director and former security official last year was detained along with the political detainees who now form the core of the exiled SPLM-G10 faction, but he was later released without having been charged.