Gatwech denies begging Kiir, Machar for peace

JUBA – South Sudan’s main armed opposition commander and leader of the breakaway SPLA-IO Kitgwang faction General Gatwech Dual has denied that he has been begging President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny for political will to implement a peace deal he signed with Kiir.

Gatwech in January this year signed an agreement with President Kiir’s ruling SPLM party providing for integration of his forces into the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) within a period not exceeding three months.

But the agreement has not been implemented and General Gatwech has accused Kiir’s most trusted security operatives of setting him up against his then deputy, General Johnson Olony Thabo, in what is an apparent set up to take his life.

Recently, social media users circulated claims that Gatwech, who has been critical of Machar since he attempted to remove him as chairman and commander in chief of the SPLM/SPLA (IO) in 2021 is now begging Kiir and Machar for peace with him.

In a statement however, a spokesman belonging to Gatwech denied the claims and termed it as a fake news perpetuated by his enemies to belittle him.

“The SPLA-IO Kitgwang is here to disregards the fake and fabricated sources circulated on social media that the leadership was asking both President Salva Kiir and his first deputy Riek Machar to have political will such that to allow the SPLM/A-IO Kitgwang leaders return to Juba,” his spokesman Brig. Gen. Alfred Gach Thot said in a statement to Sudans Post.

“The SPLM/A-IO Kitgwang leadership appeals to all members, diehard supporters and it sympathizers to disregard the evildoer plans of the enemy and remains calm. There is no any plans and short cut road to Juba,” he added.