Former rebel leader David Yau Yau defects from Kiir's faction, joins Machar's party

Former rebel leader in the Pibor area, David Yau Yau, has announced his departure from the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) under President Salva Kiir, opting instead to join the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In Opposition (SPLM-IO), led by First Vice President Riek Machar.

Addressing the failures of the May 9, 2014 Agreement and subsequent peace deals, Yau Yau lamented the lack of implementation and political will on the part of the government. "

“We have always hoped for better days for our people. We thought that the implementation of the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (ARCSS, 2015) and the R-ARCSS, 2018 would result in an inclusive and durable peace in South Sudan. This hope was shuttered when the ARCSS collapsed in 2016 before our very eyes, and now the R-ARCSS is under severe violations and the threat of being derailed or abrogated,” he said.

Under the terms of the May 9, 2014 peace agreement, Yau Yau's military faction, known as the Cobra Faction, was integrated into the South Sudan army. This agreement also resulted in the creation of the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA), giving it substantial autonomy within Jonglei State.

Yau Yau highlighted a litany of grievances against the ruling SPLM party, including allegations of corruption, tribalism, and a failure to provide security and governance throughout the country.

Pointing to systemic issues such as endemic poverty, underdevelopment, and impunity for corruption, Yau Yau underscored the urgent need for change.

"South Sudan has receded into abject poverty despite its oil wealth," he stated, emphasising the disconnect between resource abundance and citizen well-being.

Furthermore, Yau Yau criticised the government's track record in implementing peace agreements, accusing it of signing and violating them with impunity. He condemned the SPLM-IG's push for premature elections as a ploy to evade accountability and maintain the status quo.

Yau Yau's declaration came during a press conference held on April 1, 2024, at the headquarters of the SPLM-IO, where he praised Machar's leadership and vision for South Sudan since the signing of the peace agreement in 2018. He specifically cited Machar's commitment to addressing the unresolved issues that led to the outbreak of political violence after the 2010 elections.

"In joining Machar's faction, I see a leader who not only understands the aspirations of the South Sudanese people but also actively works towards achieving peace and justice," Yau Yau stated.

Last year, in October, President Kiir, who doubles as the ruling party’s (SPLM) chairman, removed Yau Yau as a member of the SPLM Liberation Council.

The National Liberation Council is the second-highest level in the SPLM.

Yau Yau, once a rebel leader in the Pibor area who later signed a peace deal with the government, joined the ruling party SPLM in the capital, Juba, in January 2016. His journey into rebellion began in 2010 following his unsuccessful bid for a parliamentary seat in the Sudanese general elections.

Transitioning from rebellion to mainstream politics, Yau Yau assumed various governmental roles, including serving as the chief administrator of the Greater Pibor Area and later as deputy minister of defence.