Gatwech’s group says Henry Odwar remains head of political wing

JUBA – South Sudan main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) Kitgwang faction led by General Simon Gatwech Dual has said that former minister of mining and deputy chairman and commander in chief of SPLM-IO Henry Odwar is still the group’s head of political bureau.

Odwar last August resigned as minister of mining in South Sudan’s unity government and joined General Gatwech and General Olony who had unsuccessfully attempted to removed First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny as chairman and commander in chief of the opposition group.

Odwar immediately declared his support and his intention to join General Gatwech’s move and was then appointed by Gatwech, without consultations with General Olony who was opposed to his appointment, as the head of the SPLA-IO Kitgwang faction political bureau.

At one point, Olony threatened to arrest any politician that would set food to Magenis saying the SPLA-IO Kitgwang faction was only a military group that does not want politicians in its rank and file.

After the signing of the agreement between President Salva Kiir Mayardit and General Gatwech’s group in February, rumors have been spreading that Odwar has secretly resigned from the group over the signing of the agreement.

But speaking to Sudans Post in an exclusive interview this afternoon, General Gatwech’s military spokesman Colonel Alfred Gach Thot said Odwar is still a member of the SPLA-IO Kitgwang faction and the head of the group’s political bureau.

“Comrade Henry Dilah Odwar still a member of SPLM-IO Kitgwang and also the head of political bureau,” he told Sudans Post from the SPLM-IO Kitgwang headquarters Magenis this morning.

Gatwech to travel to Khartoum

The opposition mouthpiece further said that General Gatwech is set to travel to the Sudanese capital Khartoum to meet Sudanese authorities in order to assure them on his commitment to the implementation of the Khartoum peace agreement he signed with Kiir in January.

“He will come to Khartoum based on the schedule and his coming to Khartoum is to reassure the government of Sudan on his commitment for peaceful resolution to the conflict and his commitment to the peace deal,” he said.