Senior military officers abandon Gatwech, join Kiir
The Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) Kitgwang under the leadership of Lt. Gen. Simon Gatwech have lost more top army officers to President Salva Kiir.
The group led by 1st Lt. Gen. James Gattiek Diar Rial pledged their allegiance to the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) Wednesday,
In a statement seen by The City Review, the group met Kiir in a welcoming ceremony at the statehouse to declare their defection.
“His Excellency Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic met with series of commanders from SPLM/A- IO Kit-Gwang faction declaration led by the 1st Lt. Gen. James Gattiek Diar Rial and during the meeting the group declared their allegiance to the Government under the leadership of H.E. President Salva Kiir Mayardit, the commander in Chief (C-in-C) of the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF),” the statement read in part.
However, the group was equivocal on the reasons of abandoning their former boss.
“The army Generals said they have abandoned SPLM/A-IO Kitgwang Declaration and joined the SSPDF under the leadership of H.E. President Salva Kiir Mayardit due to a number of reasons,” it said.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, the Press Secretary in the Office of the President Hon. Ateny Wek Ateny said Kiir welcomed the group to SSPDF.
This comes after James Kalany Mamuon, the press secretary Gatwech, tendered his resignation from the position.
Kalany was appointed last year following the split of the SPLM/SPLA (IO) which was brought about by an attempt by Gen. Gatwech and other senior SPLA-IO commanders to remove First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny as chairman and commander in chief of the SPLM/SPLA (IO).
The split, which took place in August last, resulted in a continued internal fighting between opposition soldiers who support either side of the main armed opposition group which is also a key signatory to the revitalized peace agreement signed by First Vice President Machar and President Salva Kiir Mayardit.
In a statement this evening, Kalany said he had initially decided to join the opposition faction to support them in their quest for peace and integration into South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) under the command of President Salva Kiir Mayardit.
“This is to inform my friends, colleagues and the general public that I have resigned as the Press Secretary of Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual, the leader of SPLM-IO Kitgwang,” Mamuon said in the statement, a copy of which was seen by Sudans Post on Wednesday night.
“After the Generals deposed the leadership of SPLM-IO, I decided to support the ‘Principle of Kitgwang declaration’ the military wing of our former Movement and help to guide them toward Peace. Now that the peace is signed, I have decided to contribute towards our nation-building through a different platform since I am not a soldier but a civilian,” he added.
Last month, Gen. James Makuach, another top officer, resigned from the movement citing lack of vision and direction from the leadership.
In an exclusive interview with The City Review, the Chairperson of Information and Mobilisation Committee of SPLM/A-IO Kit Gwang faction, Brig. Chuol Deng Thon, said, unlike its defected cadre, the group is not after positions.
The Chairperson rubbished the statement by Makuach that the Gatwech-led movement was clueless and has no political direction.
“Kit-Gwang is not after the positions. Our problem is the implementation of the agreement so the claim of Gen. Makuach is not true. We have the political will and that is why we have come back to implement the peace in order to end the suffering of South Sudanese,” he said.
Thon said the SPLM/A-IO Kitgwang faction was not established on the basis of commercial politics.
“We are not like others who take rebellion as a business or supper market. Gen. Makuach is considered as a person who left the room for the verandah because we are all in the government. So where is he going to?’ Thon asked.
