Ex-Unity state deputy governor joins Gen. Gatwech

JUBA – Former South Sudan deputy governor of the country’s Unity State Gen. Laraka Machar Turoal has declared his decision to join the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) Kitgwang faction led by General Simon Gatwech Dual.

In a statement seen by Sudans Post, the senior government official accused President Salva Kiir Mayardit of standing adamant to the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement, adding that the South Sudanese head of state was also behind the collapse of the 2015 peace agreement in 2016.

“The fact that President Kiir failed to provide leadership in the independent Republic of South Sudan by failing to uphold two peace accords, the Agreement on Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (ARCISS)-2015, and the Revitalized Agreement on Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (R- ARCISS)-2018 is an indication of lack of growth and progress in our beloved country,” he said in a statement.

He said his decision to join Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual’s group is for the sack of the freedom of the people of South Sudan saying South Sudanese people will have to take upon themselves to protect their unity in the face of what he calls disturbance of peace by the ruling SPLM factions.

“Today, we it upon ourselves to stand strong in support for South Sudan and it’s people irrespective of tribe, religion or region to build the actual Republic of South Sudan on the principles of justice, equality and genuine democracy free from the menace of corruption, tribalism and destructive nepotism nurtured by the current hopeless regime and its generations,” he added.

General Simon Gatwech, a former SPLA-IO chief of staff, attempted in August this year to remove First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny as chairman and commander in chief of the main armed opposition group, accusing him of selling the opposition’s principles for positions under Kiir’s regime.

This attempt resulted in a deadly infighting between opposition forces with one side supporting General Simon Gatwech and the other supporting Machar. Around 40 people were killed when opposition forces allied to Machar attacked Kitgwang, General Gatwech’s stronghold in northern Upper Nile state.

Currently, a peace initiative mean by Sudan to bring General Simon Gatwech to the coalition government in Juba has been stalled after Sudan’s October 25 coup in which head of the military council Gen. Abdelfattah Al Burhan declared a state of emergency and removed the transitional government led by Hamdok.

In November, Hamdok and Burhan agreed to work together again and Hamdok was restored to his position and opposition officials allied to Gen. Gatwech in Khartoum have told Sudans Post several times that they were in touch with Kiir’s government on the resumption of talks which they said would happen soon.