Minister of Information Michael Makuei Lueth - Photo: Awan Moses/Eye Radio

The National Minister of Information said the government discourages military defections but that it cannot turn away defectors returning to the SSPDF as this could trigger another rebellion.

Michael Makuei said if the government rejects those who want to join the government, they may also establish another rebel group, which, according to him, is not good for the sake of peace.

He said there are those who also defect from the national army under President Kiir to SPLA-IO, SSOA and NAS.

“There are some who are also defecting from us, from SSPDF going to NAS, others are going to IO, others are going to SSOA. So, it is not us who are encouraging defections,” Makuei said during a meeting of the peace monitoring body R-JMEC in Juba.

The government spokesperson also denounced defection, saying those deserting their camps should know that they are circulating within the same government.

Makuei was responding to Charles Tai Gituai, the interim chairperson of the peace monitoring body, R-JMEC.

According to Gituai, former SPLA-IO commander, General Simon Maguek who defected to the SSPDF, reportedly attacked SPLA-IO forces based in Unity State on November 28, 2023.

Ambassador Gituai said the violence in Leer of Unity State caused the loss of lives, civilian displacement, and instilled a climate of fear among the local population.

He added that military defections are clearly contrary to the revitalized peace agreement and undermine the implementation of both the Transitional Security Arrangements and the Agreement itself.

But Minister Makuei said the government does not agree with defections, although he argued that the government cannot turn away those who defect to it.

“If somebody comes to your house and say I don’t want to stay there, I want to come and stay with you, should you send him away?” Makuei said.

“Should you reject him, and say you go back to where you came from? It is not the government that invites them, it is they who decide to come to the government, and if they come to the government, we cannot say no we don’t want you.”

“Because this will amount to the violation of the agreement, then he will say okay you have rejected me, I’m not going back, where will he be, it means that you are creating another rebellion.”

According to the chair of R-JMEC, in the past, the defections of General Ochan in Upper Nile State, General Lokujo in Central Equatoria State, and General Nando in Western Equatoria State, have resulted in the killing of innocent people, civilian displacement, and loss of livelihoods.

The Kenyan national also reminded parties to the revitalized peace deal to discourage defections and promote the protection of civilians.