![Acting SPLA-IO Chief of Staff General Gabriel Duop Lam. [Photo by JDB]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sudanspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/167139113_289168092573118_6526902423454831761_n.jpg?ssl=1)
Below is the full text statement by General Duop Lam.
AUGUST 6, 2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The SPLA-IO component of the Security Mechanisms under the leadership of Lt. Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam, the Acting Chief of General Staffs and the Co-Chair of JDB sighted with concern the attempted coup document (the Kitgwang Declaration) on 3rd August, 2021 by the Former Chief of General Staff, Gen. Gatwech Dual, who was already relieved of the command of the SLA-IO forces and appointed as Peace Advisor to the President.
The SPLA-IO leadership in the Security Mechanisms met on 6th August, 2021 in Juba and came up with the followings resolutions;
- The SPLA-IO Command reaffirms the decision of the SPLM/A-IO Political Bureau in a meeting held on 4th August, 2021; as it is subordinate to the civilian rule of the movement under the leadership of H.E. Riek Machar Teny (PhD), Chairman and Commander in – Chief of the SPLM/A-IO.
- The SPLA-IO denounce and condemn the Kitgwang Declaration in the strongest term possible and stand behind under the able leadership of the SPLM/A-IO, Chairman and Commander in Chief Dr. Riek Machar Teny Dhurgon.
- The SPLA-IO applauds the patriotic move of the Sectors and Division Commanders for openly denouncing the Kitgwang Declaration, and pledging their unwavering support to H.E. Riek Machar Teny (PhD). This proves that the failed coup attempt is zeroed to only few elements in Magenis, who succumb to pressure from the enemies of peace.
- The SPLA-IO would like to point it out that the incident that is happening in Magenis is related to the incidences that happened in Maiwut, Kajo Keji, Maban, and Lieng due to encouraged and sponsored defections from the peace partner. This was evident in the recorded conversation of the former SPLA-IO Spokesperson, Brig. Gen. William Gatjiath Deng.
- The SPLA-IO would like to inform the people of South Sudan, the Region and the International Community that the delay in the unification of Command and the graduation of the forces are not failures of the SPLA-IO but the peace partners
- In conclusion, the SPLA-IO under the leadership of H.E Dr. Riek Machar Teny Dhurgon, would like assure its supporters and the South Sudanese general public that it is in full command and control of all the forces in its 8 Sectors and the Divisions therein.
The SPLA-IO remains committed to the implementation of the Transitional Security Arrangement and reserves the right to self- defense when aggressed.
Lt. Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam
Acting Chief of General Staffs and
Co-Chair of JDB.
Very nonsense article. You Doup Lam, Riek Machar, and many others in Juba are position seekers. You have been in Juba eating and sleeping in hotels for the last two years. What have you and Riek Machar achieve in the name of the marginalize people of South Sudan and the naath in particular? Nothing.
There is no peace agreement being implemented in Juba. You know very well that Salva Kiir Mayardit never implement any peace agreement. He is not a man of peace. Dinkas as a tribe have an agenda that is long due although there are small scales of internal division within the Dinka community.
Therefore, Simon Gatwech Dual has a legitimate right to dismiss Riek Machar and all of you thugs together. You are all useless to Nuer people. You and your Riek Machar have led the greater naath nation down. We Nuer ,shilluk, and many other marginalized groups in the Republic of South Sudan(RSS) will stand behind Simon Gatwech Dual.
Gatwech Dual and many others in Nuer community are right to call out that there is no any implementation of peace agreement going on in Juba. The security arrangements, which is the major provision in the agreement is not being implemented. The reason is that Salva Kiir and his close elites from the Dinka community are not interested in implementing the security arrangements provision.
There is no any negotiated peace agreement that succeed in the world history without first implementing the security arrangements. Those in the cantonment areas have deserted their training camps in big numbers because they have been neglected.
Now, you Doup Lam, Riek Machar, Angelina Teny, and many other position seekers in Juba, what is your role? You have done nothing to demonstrate to the Nuer people that you are there to represent the Nuer interest.
You have not even take time to visit our people who have been suffering in UNMISS camp for more than six years. You ignored them.
Right now, Nuer people need a charismatic, ruthless, visionary, and an organizational leader who will give direction and guidance to the Nuer people. Nuer people are now like a herd of cows without a bull. In order for any group to succeed and prevail in their liberation against the oppressors, they must have a visionary and a ruthless leader who is ready to die for them. Riek Machar is not ready to die for the Nuer people. He had shown that he is only pursuing his own interests. Nuer people must change cause and stand behind Gatwech Dual.
My advice to Simon Gatwech Dual is that he must be careful what is strategy he takes. The Nuer people are fate up with Salva Kiir who cannot be trusted. Salva Kiir and his Dinkas cannot be trusted anymore after many failures and delayment tactics against the Nuer people. Simon Gatwech Dual must listen to the voice of the Nuer people across the globe both from the diaspora and Nuer people on the ground. What do the Nuer people want now? What are the grievances among the Nuer?
Nuer people want a leader who will show to them that he is a visionary and charismatic leader by not following the same path taken by Riek Machar for the last 30 years. Nuer people need a leader who is ready to stand up against Dinkas oppression.
Nuer people need a leader who is ready to take the fight to the enemy, the Dinkas in every corner of South Sudan. Nuer people need a leader who is ready to die for them. Therefore, my advice to Simon Gatwech Dual is that he must pursue the regime change agenda only through arms struggle.
He must not try to implement this useless Revitalized Peace Agreement with Salva Kiir who cannot be trusted. If Salva Kiir did not want to implement the Revitalized Peace Agreement with Riek Machar, who are you Simon Gatwech Dual thinking that Salva Kiir Mayardit will now implement the peace agreement with you in good faith?
Therefore, Simon Gatwech Dual must seriously take into the consideration that if he will try to continue to implement the dead Revitalized Peace Agreement with the dishonest Salva Kiir Mayardit, he will definitely lose the support of the Nuer community both from the diaspora and on the ground.
Nuer will either put their support behind General Stephen Buay Rolnyang and Duer Tut Makuach who are only calling for regime change.
People are fate up with Salva Kiir in the Republic of South Sudan(RSS) including his own tribe men. Salva Kiir is a man who cannot be trusted anymore. He cheated David Yau, he cheated Riek Machar in 2016, and he is now cheating SSOMA in Roma.
Regime change only is the only solution to Salva Kiir and his Dinka dynasty.
Lago Gatjal Riaka
Master’s Degree
International peace and conflict resolution
Arcadia University,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
USA
2010