BREAKING | Gatwech expels Olony from SPLM-IO Kitgwang

JUBA – The leader of the breakaway SPLA-IO Kitgwang faction Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual has expelled Gen. Johnson Olony Thabo, the leader of the controversial Agwelek faction, from the main armed opposition faction, saying crimes Olony is committing should not be attributed to the Gatwech-led group.

This comes after Gen. Olony claimed in a statement this week that he has been attacked by forces of Gen. Gatwech, of Dr. Lam Akol, and of First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar, just days after Olony’s forces were implicated in an attack on Machar’s base.

In a statement, Gatwech’s group informed the people of South Sudan and the international community that General Johnson Olony is no longer a member of the SPLA-IO Kitgwang faction and any crimes that he would commit are his own making.

“We duly inform the people of South Sudan, IGAD and International community that, the Agwelek forces under Gen. Johnson Olony are no longer affiliated to SPLM/A-IO Kitgwang under 1^st Lt Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual,” said a statement signed by Gatwech’s military spokesman Brig. Gen. Gach Thot.

“Any heinous crimes against humanity committed by Agwelek forces anywhere in South Sudan shouldn’t be attributed to us,” he added.

While condemning the attacks, the statement said it is committed to the implementation of the Khartoum peace agreement the group signed with President Salva Kiir Mayardit’s government and sees it as the only way to resolve the conflict.

“As responsible armed forces governed by rule of law and international conventions, we condemn in the strongest possible terms Agwelek forces act of provocation against innocent civilians of greater Fangak areas,” the statement said.

“We the SPLM/A-IO Kitgwang are truly committed to the peaceful resolution of conflict through which our leadership sent advance peace team to juba earlier this year,” the statement further added.