By Emmanuel Mandella

In a significant boost to peace efforts in South Sudan, fourteen senior members of the South Sudan National Resistance Army (SSNRA) declared their allegiance to the Transitional Government of South Sudan on Friday, following a series of high-level dialogues in Central Equatoria State’s Yei River County. The move marks a major shift in allegiance from the rebel faction previously linked to Gen. Thomas Cirillo’s National Salvation Front (NAS).

Brigadier General Ronald Bakata Lasu, the SSNRA Commander-in-Chief, announced the group’s decision, pledging full support for the peace process and directing his forces to assemble in designated cantonment areas.

“Today, 10 January 2025, I, Brigadier General Ronald Bakata Lasu, Commander-in-Chief of the SSNRA, do hereby declare our allegiance to the Government of South Sudan under the esteemed leadership of President Salva Kiir in recognition of the shared vision for peace, stability, and development in our nation,” he proclaimed.

“We commit to justice, peace, and national reconciliation and urge all armed individuals still hiding to join hands with us in advancing the cause of unity and sovereignty.”

Bakata’s appeal to combatants hiding in the bush came with a call for practical government action.

“The government must expedite arrangements for our cantonment areas. Our people are ready to embrace peace, but support structures must be swift and functional,” he emphasized.

Security Coordinator Juma David Augustine underscored the logistical demands of reintegration.

“It’s crucial to move the families of these officers from the bush to Yei. The lack of sufficient rehabilitation and support undermines progress,” he said. “UN agencies and partners must act decisively to sustain the trust these defectors have placed in the government.”

Augustine warned that stalled peace initiatives, often hampered by insufficient resources, could erode confidence. “We must keep the momentum fresh and growing by providing immediate and tangible assistance,” he added.

Yei River County Commissioner, Emmanuel Taban Seme, hailed the defection as a triumph of dialogue over military action.

“Today, we welcome home our brothers without firing a single bullet. Negotiations, not operations, brought us here,” Taban noted. “Brigadier Bakata and his team sought no financial gain—just peace. Their choice proves that the zeal for war is costlier than the pursuit of peace.”

The commissioner’s three-month negotiations inspired hope among other armed factions, hinting at a potential shift toward broader reconciliation.

The peace deal’s signatories include Brig. Gen. Anthony Salah Andrew, Brig. Gen. Peter Bilali Dukuya, and other high-ranking officers. Their defection signals a growing desire for unity as South Sudan continues its journey toward lasting peace.