South Sudanese rebel leader rejoins government

A senior South Sudanese rebel leader who defected from the main opposition movement SPLM-IO last year and formed a new rebel group called the National Resistance Movement (NRM) on Friday abandoned his rebellion and rejoined the South Sudan government in Juba.

General Makuac Teny Youk, a former Minister of Youth and Sports in the government of President Salva Kiir until 2013 told journalists in Juba that he left his rebellion in order to participate in a national dialogue called for by the South Sudanese leader last year.

Youk said his rebel force of 3,500 army currently stationed in the Upper Nile region would be integrated into the SPLA army.

"It is my privilege to come back to the SPLM to continue with the process of telling our people that this country belongs to us. It is not the issue of position that can destroy our country because those positions can be found tomorrow," Youk said.

"Change is a process, so I believe with my coming in, I will also put my stone in nation building," he added.

Bol Makueng, Spokesman for the ruling Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) welcomed the rebel leader and urged other rebel movements to denounce violence and join the national dialogue initiative.

"The coming of Makuac is very important for the people to recognize and we call on other armed actors to come home and join the peace process," Makueng said.

South Sudan has been engulfed by war for more than three years since political row between President Kiir and his then deputy Machar escalated into full time civil war.

The conflict has been characterized by defections to opposing sides and newly formed armed groups cropping up.

Tens of thousands of South Sudanese have been killed, with over 2 million displaced and another 4.6 million left severely food insecure, since December 2013.

Last month, the UN declared localized famine in parts of South Sudan, warning that some 100,000 people, nearly half of the population is in dire need of food aid. Endit