Absence of unified agenda may delay Magenis conference beyond September 30 – officials

KITGWANG – Disagreements have reportedly emerged between leaders of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) faction led by General Simon Gatwech Dual over what should be the agenda of the Magenis conference slated for September 30^th 2021.

Two opposition sources who refused to be named told Sudans Post this afternoon that there are disagreements as to what should be discussed during the largest opposition gathering since the split in August with some including General Johnson Olony suggesting that the conference be used as an opportunity to declare full-blown war against President Kiir’s government.

“Some of them including General Johnson Olony Thabo see that there is no time to waste and there is need for all the opposition groups in South Sudan to use the Magenis conference as an opportunity to declare resistance against the regime of President Salva Kiir Mayardit,” the source said.

“But the SPLM-IO itself hasn’t yet set its own agenda and that is why it should not invite other opposition groups to participate in the conference. This will render the SPLM-IO an opposition group without viable agenda and reason to fighting the leadership of President Salva in Juba,” the source added.

Another official said General Simon Gatwech Dual and other senior SPLM-IO politicians including the head of the group’s political wing, Henry Odwar, want the conference to only be conducted before invitation of other opposition groups for any possible future alliance saying the group should first be organized before engaging with any opposition group in the country for alliance.

“What Honorable Henry Odwar is saying is that the SPLM/A (IO) should first meet, discuss its internal matters and leadership structure, set its agenda and then invite other opposition groups for talks. This position is accepted by General Simon Gatwech but he invited others like Malong and Buay anyway which is unfortunate,” the official told Sudans Post on condition of anonymity.

The official further said the disagreement, coupled with late arrival of delegates from Western World and difficulties in transporting opposition commanders from front lines to Magenis may push the conference beyond the September 30^th.

“So, all these factors including the transportation of opposition commanders from different fronts in the country and the arrival of delegates from the United States, Australia, and Europe may delay the conference and thereby pushing it to a date beyond 30 September 2021,” the official added.