Gen. Gatwech accuses Kiir’s security advisor, spy chief of intentionally derailing peace process

JUBA – The leader of the breakaway SPLM/SPLA (IO) Kitgwang faction, General Simon Gatwech Dual, has accused President Salva Kiir Mayardit’s security advisor, Tutkew Gatluak Manimeh, and head of the National Security Service, Gen. Akol Koor Kuc, of derailing the implementation of the agreement he signed with the government in January.

Gatwech who broke away from the main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) under First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny in August 2021 following disagreements over the implementation of the security arrangements provided for in the revitalized peace agreement signed a deal with Kiir in January this year.

The agreement provides for the integration of his forces into the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) within a period not exceeding three months. But six months into the signing of the agreement, none of the provisions of the agreement including the establishment of coordination offices in state capitals such as Bor and Malakal has been implemented.

Speaking to Sudans Post on Monday, General Gatwech said the implementation of the January 2022 peace agreement with Kiir cannot be implemented is officials close to President Kiir are working to turn it into the revitalized peace agreement signed by Kiir with First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny in Khartoum in 2018.

“The agreement cannot go ahead. The 2018 revitalized peace agreement that was signed between Riek Machar and Salva Kiir cannot be implemented and Riek Machar is in jail up to now. Now, the agreement that we signed with them they want to make it like the agreement they signed with Riek Machar going to four years without being implemented,” General Gatwech said.

The top opposition leader further accused the Tut Gatluak and Gen. Akol Koor of working to derail the implementation process of the peace agreement and said the two men who are the closest to President Salva Kiir Mayardit have politicized the implementation of the agreement which he said will not advance the interest of the South Sudanese.

“This peace process has been politicized from those in Juba, especially Akol Koor and Tutkew. Even my advance team has not met President Salva Kiir Mayardit. It has not been introduced to him six months after they arrived in Juba and Tutkew is a cheater and Akol Koor is a cheater,” General Gatwech added.