Gatwech denies removal by Olony, says efforts underway to resolve Panyikang clashes

JUBA — South Sudan’s opposition commander and leader of the breakaway SPLA-IO Kitgwang faction, Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual, has denied reports of removal by his deputy, Gen. Johnson Olony Thabo, and said efforts are underway to resolve ongoing clashes in Panyikang.

Last week, Olony’s allies told Sudans Post in separate interviews that they have removed Gatwech and replaced him with Olony, appointing Gen. Thomas Mabor Dhol as his deputy.

Gatwech and his group have been dismissing internal disagreements with Olony including the dismissal for the last few weeks, but clashes between forces loyal to the two men clashed in Panyikang yesterday resulting in the killing of at least 19 soldiers, according to Olony’s group.

In a statement this afternoon, Col. Alfred Gach Thot, the military spokesman of the SPLA-IO Kitgwang faction led by Gatwech called for calm and said efforts are underway to resolve the matter.

“The SPLA-IO under the wise and able leadership of 1st Lt. Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual is deeply concerned about the ongoing clashes within SPLA-IO Kitgwang which also involved the killing of civilians in Wunkur village and the SPLA-IO Kitgwang calls to end of the violence and misunderstanding can be resolved amicably by the two leaders,” he said.

The statement went on to yet again dismiss the claims of removal of Gatwech by Olony as a social media fake news that aims at causing insecurity among the comrades.

“The office of the spokesman would like to inform the public and the SPLM-IO Kitgwang members and supporters to disregard the fake and baseless reports which circulated on social media that 1st Lt. Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual has been removed by Gen. Johnson Olony,” Col. Gach said.

“Gen. Johnson himself during during the interview with Radio Tamazuj dismissed the circulated news as fake and he has vowed that he is still under 1st Lt. Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual as his chairman and commander in chief of the SPLA/M-Kitgwang,” he added.