General Gatjiath Deng being kept in Juba against own will – sources

JUBA –  Sources are saying that SPLA-IO spokesman Brigadier General William Gatjiath Deng is being kept against his own will in Juba by First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny who allegedly asked him to stay in the South Sudanese capital in an apparent attempt to contain growing media prominence for General Simon Gatwech Dual.

This comes three weeks after the opposition military spokesman announced in a statement on social media that he had been called to Juba by the SPLA-IO leadership following exchange of barbs between Machar and SPLA-IO military chief General Simon Gatwech Dual.

Speaking to Sudans Post on Sunday afternoon, at least two senior members of the main armed opposition group who are currently in Juba and are aware of the matter said General Gatjiath was being replaced with his deputy Colonel Lam Paul Gabriel.

He said the opposition spokesman has been ordered not to leave Juba and was told to stay behind until another deliberation for his deployment by the SPLA-IO military leadership.

“Brigadier General William Gatjiath Deng has been told not to think of leaving Juba. He came to Juba with a one-way ticket and the leadership has told him to stay in Juba. He will be replaced with Lam Paul and if he tries to leave Juba, he will not be able to do that,” one official who requested not to be named said.

Another official confirmed the apparent detention of General Gatjiath and said he ” is being watched including his current moves regarding the disagreements between Gatwech and Dr. Machar.”

But when contacted by Sudans Post, General William Gatjiath refused to confirm or dismiss the report and said he was not ready to speak to any media house on “sensitive internal issues that do not make sense with the general public.”