Gen. Gatwech remains overall leader of SPLM-IO despite Odwar’s appointment – spokesman

JUBA – South Sudan’s SPLM-IO Kitgwang faction led by former SPLA-IO chief of General Staff General Simon Gatwech Dual has said that the appointment of former SPLM-IO deputy chairman Henry Odwar as head of the SPLM-IO political does not override the fact that General Simon Gatwech Dual remains the overall political patron of the group.

This comes two days after Gen. Simon Gatwech issued a decree appointing Odwar, former minister of mining of South Sudan’s revitalized unity government, as head of the SPLM-IO political bureau asking all members of the SPLM-IO Political Bureau and other politicians to report to him.

“The leadership would like to clarify the little confusion among the internet warriors on appointment of Hon. Dr. Henry Odwar. The appointment, was not mend to abdicate the powers but to coordinates and organizes the SPLM (IO) Political activities in the meantime,” Brigadier General William Gatjiath Deng said in a statement extended to Sudans Post on Tuesday.

The senior opposition commanded stressed that “the SPLA (IO) Military Supreme Council is the highest body led by the interim Chairman and Commander in Chief (C-in-C) Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual, whereas the political organ of the movement, which is led by Odwar, also falls under command of the Military Supreme Council.”

“In this regards, the appointment of Hon. Dr. Henry Odwar, is to coordinates and organizes political activities until the reorganization within the movement is completed,” General Gatjiath Deng adds.