Gatwech’s political allies gather in Khartoum as Odwar arrives from Canada

JUBA – Opposition politicians belonging to the breakaway SPLM-IO Kitgwang faction led by General Simon Gatwech Dual have gathering in the Sudanese capital Khartoum ahead of a political consultative meeting that will set objective for the opposition group, officials allied to Gatwech say.

Speaking to Sudans Post, one official said the head of the political wing of the group and former deputy chairman of the SPLM-IO Hendry Odwar has arrived in the morning from Canada after he was ordered to come to Khartoum for a meeting by Gatwech.

“Hon. Henry Odwar, the head of the SPLM/SPLA (IO) Kitgwang Political Bureau has arrived this morning from Canada because he has been told to come to Khartoum by the Chairman and Commander in Chief 1^st Lt. Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual,” the official who requested not to be named said.

“He was called by the chairman so that he will organize a political consultative meeting on the way forward for the movement because we have a lot of issues that we need to discuss, the peace agreement and the lack of will from Juba,” the official said.

Another official who also refused to be identified said other political allies who have arrived in Khartoum include former SPLM-IO Secretary General Tingo Peter, former SPLM-IO ambassador to Egypt, Gatkuoth Biel Nyang, and former member of SPLM-IO political bureau Fascola, among others.

“All of these people are here and they will be meeting the chairman these two days and within three days, the consultative meeting will kick off under the Chairman of the SPLM-IO Kitgwang Political Bureau Hon. Henry Odwar,” he said.

GEN. OLONY’S COUP

The arrival of Gatwech’s political allies comes a day after senior SPLA-IO commander Gen. Mabor Dhol claimed that they have removed Gatwech and that General Johnson Olony has replaced him with Mabor himself deputizing him.

But no statement has yet been released by Olony to confirm the alleged ouster and General Gatwech’s political allies are claiming that they haven’t been informed by General Olony as to whether the claim by Mabor is true.

“Even yesterday, the Chairman tried to contact Olony but he hasn’t informed the chairman about the alleged ouster of the chairman and General Mabor has been out of contact with us for the last few weeks apparently due to network problems. So, we cannot establish if this information is correct,” the official said.