Gatwech threatens to ‘involve’ if gov’t side with Olony against civilians — spokesman

JUBA — The breakaway main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) Kitgwang faction led by Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual has threatened to involve should government forces side with General Johnson Olony.

The threat comes after the presidency announced in a statement this week that government forces have been instructed by the president to deploy to Upper Nile state to protect civilians.

This was after armed youth from neighboring Jonglei State’s Fangak and Ayod counties attacked civilian settlements in the Shilluk Kingdom.

Speaking to Sudans Post this evening, SPLA-IO Kitgwang spokesman Brig. Gen. Alfred Gach Thot said government forces are currently gathering at Kodok in preparation to launch attacks against civilians in Jonglei and against their forces.

“The forces that were recently unified are now in Kodok, everybody knows that fact,” he said.

He warned that their forces will have to involve should the government forces side with General Johnson Olony’s Agwelek faction to attack civilians.

“The SPLA-IO KD will definitely involve if the government opted to take side of a communal fights, then It’s one of the SPLA-IO KD mandate to protect the civilians under the areas of it control,” he said.