Another top SPLA-IO commander abandons Machar, joins Gen. Gatwech

JUBA – South Sudan opposition commander Major General William Deng Gai Gatluak has declared his decision to abandon First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny to join the SPLM-IO Kitgwang faction led by former opposition chief of staff General Simon Gatwech Dual along with General Johnson Olony Thabo.

The defection of the senior opposition commander comes a day after the SPLA-IO head of Disarmament, Demobilization and Integration Commission (DDR) Major-General Hoth Gor Luak accused Machar of surrendering to President Salva Kiir Mayardit’s regime before joining General Simon Gatwech.

“I Hon. Major-General Hoth Gor Luak would like to inform the leadership of president of the republic of South Sudan H.E Salva Kiir Mayardit that from today 7th September 2021, I have declared my resignation from the position of National Disarmament, Demobilization and Integration commission (NDDRC) that I was appointed to as representative of SPLM/A /IO by Dr. Riek Machar Teny as According to the revitalized peace agreement terms,” General Hoth said in a statement extended to Sudans Post yesterday.

In a statement on Tuesday afternoon, General Deng said he has decided to leave the SPLM-IO faction led by First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny and declared his allegiance to the opposition group’s Kitgwang faction led by General Gatwech, but did not give reasons for his defection.

“I Maj. Gen. William Deng Gach do hereby to give my full support to the Kitgwang Declaration, and would like to join 1st. Lt. Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual and his deputy 1st. Lt. Gen. Johnson Olony Thabo to work with them hand to hand and continue the struggle along with our comrades in the struggle under their strong leadership from now onward,” Gen. Deng Gai said.