South Sudan's former local minister joins opposition, cites corruption in Kiir government

Civilians hold placards as South Sudan's Vice-President Taban Deng Gai addresses them at the Freedom Square in Yei, southwest of the capital Juba, South Sudan December 31, 2016. /REUTERS

South Sudan's Former Minister of Local Government Lokai Iko Loteyo on Tuesday announced his defection to join rebel leader Riek Machar's SPLM party.

In a statement, Loteyo said President Salva Kiir's government has betrayed the core founding values and objectives.

He said the current regime has been infiltrated and run by the enemies and agents of hostile parties to the interests of people of Siuth Sudan during liberation.

According to Loteyo, unabated massive corruption had led to lack of service delivery and increased criminal activities throughout the country.

"President Kiir has personally sanctioned the horrendous massacres of the people from the greater Equatoria region as well as the upper Nile State, Jongile state, Unity tate and Western Bhar el Ghazal State," Loteyo said.

More on this: South Sudanese flee as country edges closer to 'genocide'

Loteyo accused Kiir's government of "tribalising" the national army by recruiting his own "notorious" tribesmen who were largely to blame for the mass killings.

He further said that the enactment of repressive security laws was an indication that SPLM-IG was not pro-people as it had severally curtailed cardinal values such as democracy, freedom of movement, free expression and transparency and accountability.

"As a way forward, it is important for Juba government to recognise genuine peace in South Sudan can only come through the participation of all stakeholders and cognisant of all ARCISS as agreed in August 2015," he said.

Loteyo demanded that the participatory approach must be genuine, transparent, fair and with no single party maintaining monopoly over others.

In July last year opposing forces loyal to Kiir and Machar engaged in heavy fighting in the capital Juba.

The recent bout of unrest has led to one in five people in South Sudan being displaced as 2.3 million citizens have been forced to flee their homes. Over 720,000 people have fled to neighbouring countries in search of safety.