{UAH} Machar Rebels Get Air Force Personnel To Counter UPDF
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10:14 AM |
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Machar Rebels Get Air Force Personnel To Counter UPDF
South Sudan rebels under Dr. Riek Machar have received six air force personnel and operators to counter the Ugandan army UPDF`s air power in the war that has now lasted nine months, killing tens of thousands and displacing millions.
In a statement released on Saturday, the SPLA- In Opposition said the new air forcedefected from the Juba government's SPLA forces under President Salva Kiir and joined the rebels over many grievances among them sectarianism in the nationalarmy.
"We the undersigned SPLA Air Force personnel as of today 13th September 2014 do hereby declare our defection to SPLA- In Opposition under the able leadership of Dr. Riek Macha Teny," part of the statement seen by Chimpreports reads in part.
The defected soldiers who are prepared to face the UPDF`s Su-koi 30`s and other fighter jets, include Chief of Air Force`s ground engineer Lt. Tut Jock Bov, Fixed Wing pilot Lt. Pito Adwok Nyaba, Flight engineer Sgt. Ocholla Joseph, MI 17 Helicopter pilot Pvt. Khan David Bedit, Air Traffic Controller Pvt. Liech Domai Ruei.
On top of the above five skilled personnel trained from United States of America and Russia among other countries, a South Sudanese Civil Aviation Authority senior manager Riang Ruei Duop also defected to the rebels.
Machar`s rebel movement in same statement signed by the military spokesman Brig. Lul Ruai Koang, welcome the defectors and boasted that it will help them erect theirair force in controlled areas to effectively counter UPDF`s air dominance.
"Their defection to SPLA- In Opposition is a major blow to Juba regime. Their presence in the resistance movement will help facilitate establishment of Air Force in liberated areas to counter the UPDF`s Air Force which had dominated the skies of South Sudan since the Civil war broke out on 15th December 2013," charged Brig Lul.
Contacted, the UPDF spokesman Col. Paddy Ankunda said, "now is not the time to talk war but peace talks mediated by regional body IGAD going on in neighbouring Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa to find a peaceful solution" to the South Sudan conflict .
The UPDF warplanes thwarted Dr Machar's attempts to seize Juba after a failed coup in December 2013.
Dickens Honeywell Okello
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