Officers in Unity state from the Sudanese Armed Forces defected to the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA). The group who are led by Colonel Wal Khan also included Gai Yoach and four other ranking officers.
Unity state deputy governor William Dawut Riak told Sudan Tribune during a meeting of the council of state ministers, that the group joined the SPLA on August 20.
Mr. Wal Khan one of the defectors confirmed that they were twenty five in number, five of whom were ranking officers. Mr. Khan revealed that it was important to join the SPLA before the referendum on self-determination scheduled to take place in January next year.
He accused SAF of using southerners as tools to kill their brothers in the region and other areas of the Sudan. He urged southern Sudanese who are still in the north to decide whether to remain with SAF or join the SPLM/A before the Southern Sudan referendum takes place next year.