Juba, October 30, 2019 (SSNA) — South Sudan’s main opposition party, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In Oppsitiom (SPLM-IO), has harsly criticized a fake document being spreaded on social media. The armed opposition brands the text as ‘a propaganda’ perpetuated by supporters of South Sudan’s government supportes, especially those who ally themselves with the First Vice President Tabam Deng Gai.
On Wednesday, an unconfirmed statement was shared on social media by people widely assumed as government operatives.
“…the SPLM/SPLA (IO) would like to categorically refute the malicious propaganda and fake news that created and circulated by anti-SPLM (IO) and anti-peace elements; dated, October 30, 2019 – subject: H.E. Dr. Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon has been given asylum officially to be accommodated and exiled in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia,” SPLM-IO Director for information and public relations Puok Both Baluang says in a statement obtained by the South Sudan News Agency (SSNA).
The SPLM-IO spokesman explains that the document people dissiminsting was issued by Ethiopia after IGAD chairman Dr. Abiy consulted with other regional leaders about ways to arrive at achieving peace in the world’s youngest nation.
The South Sudan News Agency has been told by the IGAD that the document was legit and that the regional leaders we’re simply following international norms to allow Dr. Machar to travel to the East African region.