Taban Deng Gai’s Camp Disintegrating As Senior Officials Defect

[Elisabeth Janaina]

Taban Deng Gai’s Camp Disintegrating As Senior Officials Defect
February 28, 2017 Nyamilepedia Leave a comment

Gen Khamis Abdel-Latif speaking to South Sudanese and friends at
Safari Park Hotel on January 16, 2015 in Nairobi, Kenya, where he
declared his defection to SPLM/SPLA[IO](Photo credits: Nyamilepedia)

Gen Khamis Abdel-Latif speaking to South Sudanese and friends at
Safari Park Hotel on January 16, 2015 in Nairobi, Kenya, where he
declared his defection to SPLM/SPLA[IO](Photo credits: Nyamilepedia)
Feb 28, 2017(Nyamilepedia) —— A break away faction of SPLM/A (in
Opposition) under the leadership of Gen. Taban Deng Gai, who
collaborates with Salva Kiir government, has began to disintegrate.

Within the last two weeks, the camp which is made up of loosely allied
politicians has suffered major defections while Taban undergoes
medical treatment in Europe, according to insiders.

Among the recent defections is Maj. Gen. Khamis Abdelatif Chawul, an
outspoken senior politician, who joins the opposition in January 2015.

Declaration his defection in Juba, Gen. Khamis accused Gen. Taban of
being “the most tribalist Nuer politician” he has ever seen in his
life.

Gen. Khamis accuses Taban of lacking a vision for the country and said
he [Taban] is being used to implement government’s programs.

The former negotiator of SPLM/A-IO, Taban Deng Gai, controversially
replaced Dr. Machar as the First Vice President in July 2016 and went
on to appoint his own officials, mostly from his Nuer community.

According to critics, Taban’s appointments were strategically chosen
to lure majority of Nuer tribe to Juba to support Salva Kiir’s
government and to isolate Dr. Riek Machar Teny among the Nuer tribe;
however, only a handful politicians and less than 1% of military
generals accepted Machar’s forceful replacement.

Since July 2016, vast majority of SPLM/A-IO advance team and
supporters, who returned to Juba to implement the peace agreement,
have sneaked out of the capital to weight war against the government.

Senior politicians like Lt. Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam have defected and
rejoined the SPLM/A-IO.
Taban Group Regrets Gen. Khamis’ Defection

Responding to Gen. Khamis’ defection, SPLM/A-Taban camp regrets such a
decision but said it’s okay he can defect to join whatever political
camp he wishes as long as such decision will not fuel the conflict.

“We regret the resignation of Gen. Khamis Abdelatif Chawul from the
SPLM/A-IO. Khamis was a committed member of SPLM/A-IO. However, as a
politician he has a right to decide on the current political matters
that are facing the country as long as his action don’t involve
violence” Said Dr. Dhieu Mathok Ding, the Secretary of SPLM/A-Taban
defection.

Dhieu went on to assures Gen. Khamis that their group is still
committed to work with Salva Kiir government to implement the peace
agreement.

Khamis would be the third highest politician to have defected from the
camp within the last two weeks following defection of Lt. Gen. Gabriel
Duop and recently speculated defection of Lt. Gen. Alfred Lado Gore.