Gen. Gatwech not under house arrest in Sudan – aide

JUBA – South Sudan opposition commander and de facto chairman of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO), General Simon Gatwech Dual, and his deputy, General Johnson Olony Thabo, are not under any house arrest or political detention in the Sudanese capital Khartoum, an aide allied to Gen. Gatwech has said.

This comes following social media speculations that Gatwech who attempted to oust First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny as Chairman and Commander in Chief of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition (SPLM/SPLA-IO) in August was being detained in Khartoum by the Sudanese authorities.

In a statement extended to Sudans Post, Gen. Gatwech’s press secretary James Kalany Mamuon said the rumors are intended fabrication by people he called ‘enemies’ of the end of South Sudan’s conflict saying General Simon Gatwech is in the Sudanese capital Khartoum along with allies upon invitation of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).

“The SPLM/SPLA-IO would like to inform its members and the general public that the above subject is not true but a message fabricated by the enemies of peace. The leadership of SPLM/SPLA-IO is not under house arrest,” Kalany said in a strong-worded statement send to Sudans Post this afternoon.

“They were here in Khartoum on invitation by the IGAD. They are in the Sudanese Capital in search of genuine peace for the people of South Sudan,” the senior opposition official further added in the statement.

Kalany further warned the general membership of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition “not to succumb to fake news but to follow the right channels to get their information. This fake news does not even make sense.”