At least 63 members of the United Democratic Salvation Front (UDSF) party n Northern Bahr el Ghazal joined Salva Kiir’s Juba-based faction of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) party.

The group, led by their deputy chairman Amath Riing Lual, were welcomed by the SPLM-Juba’s state secretary general John Dau and other officials.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj Friday, Lual attributed their defection to a stoppage of activities in the party since December last year after the chairman of the UDSF had travelled abroad.

“Thus, we preferred to join SPLM instead of being idle without any political programs,” he said.

Dau said the party is working hard to register more members. He expressed happiness about the defection of UDSF members, saying they would be a good addition to the party.

SPLM-Juba is one of the two main warring factions in South Sudan's civil war which began when the ruling party splintered in December 2013.

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