The Sudan News Agency is reporting that a group of SPLM-North leaders, led by Brigadier General Muhammad Yunus, have defected to the ranks of the Sudanese government. The group said they have isolated the head of the SPLM-N, Malik Agar, and declared their readiness to negotiate with the Sudanese government.

Yunus was one of the leaders of the SPLM-N Blue Nile sector.

The SPLM-N issued a statement that it has been monitoring communications between Yunus and Khartoum for the past two years and that he had already been relieved of his position. They also accused Yunus of mismanagement and selling SPLA-N food illegally.

SPLM-N Blue Nile Secretariat’s Generall Abdullah Ibrahim said Yunus has been assigned to civilian duties. He was with seven other members of the movement on a mission to the Ora area two days ago before defecting.