Gen. Gatwech reports ‘big progress’ on integration of his forces to SSPDF

KHARTOUM (SUDANS POST) – South Sudan’s controversial opposition commander and leader of the breakaway SPLA-IO Kitgwang faction General Simon Gatwech Dual has said that there is progress into the integration process of his forces into the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF).

Gatwech, the former military chief of staff of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO), signed a peace agreement with President Salva Kiir Mayardit in January, providing for the integration of thousands of opposition forces who defected from the SPLA-IO with him into the South Sudan army.

Speaking to Sudans Post in an exclusive interview on Monday evening, James Kalany Mamuon, the press secretary of the breakaway SPLA-IO commander, said that there has been a progress to the implementation of the Khartoum agreement with President Salva Kiir’s government.

“There is a lot of progress with regards to Khartoum Peace Agreements, but we don’t want to reveal that progress at this point in time since all the issues regarding the agreement are military programmes, they will be revealing when the time is appropriate,” he said.

He said General Gatwech will not return to Juba until when the opposition group completed the integration of the SPLA-IO forces which are commanded by General Simon Gatwech Dual.

“General Gatwech can return back anytime, as soon as the military advance team is done with all the arrangements needed to be put in place before he could return to the capital Juba,” Mamuon said.

“The advance team is there for his return. As soon as the preparation is completed, then he shall be back to the country,” he added.