General Gatwech denies alleged links with Pagan, Malong

JUBA – The SPLA-IO Chief of General Staff General Simon Gatwech Dual has denied reports that are being circulated on social media that he is in talks with opposition leaders General Paul Malong Awan and Pagan Amum Okiech.

This comes after reports said the main armed opposition military chief was exploring ways to form an alliance with the leaders of South Sudan United Front and Real-SPLM in a bid to cement war against the government in Juba.

Speaking to Sudans Post this evening, General Gatwech said the reports on social media are meant to tarnish his image before the membership of the SPLM-IO, something he calls a campaign being waged by some people he didn’t name within the SPLM-IO.

“You know there is a campaign against me trying to brand me as an anti-peace element and unprincipled man. That information comes from people I known within the movement and I will no mention them,” General Dual said from Magenis.

“What I would like to say is that it is not true, and I urge every member of the movement that I have my own press unit and secretary who give information about what I am doing and anything that comes outside this is not true,” he said.

The rumors come as relations between SPLM-IO leader Dr. Riek Machar Teny and General Gatwech after the former dismissed the later from the army chief position and appointing him as a presidential advisor for peace.

General Gatwech rejected the appointment and said the position is not in the revitalized peace agreement and as such will not be able to take it up. He also cited lack of the government commitment to the completion of the security arrangements.