General Gatwech says removal of Machar by Duer Tut is ‘a one-man decision’

JUBA – The military chief of South Sudan’s main armed opposition group, SPLA-IO, General Simon Gatwech Dual has distanced himself from the removal of the group’s leader and First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny by senior SPLM-IO member and former governor of Sobat State Duer Tut Duer saying it is a one man decision.

Yesterday, Duer made public a statement dated June 1, 2021 removing Machar and said the powerful South Sudan opposition leader cannot serve as First Vice President in the government of President Salva Kiir and the chairman of a rebel movement at the same time.

He declared himself the interim chairperson of the group and formed an interim leadership council which he tasked with the reformation of the SPLM-IO which he said has badly been destroyed by Dr. Riek Machar.

In a statement this evening, Brigadier General William Gatjiath Deng, the SPLA-IO military spokesman said the decision by Duer Tut was not taken with full knowledge of the SPLA-IO chief of staff and as such framed it as a one man decision that should not be taken seriously by members of the SPLM/SPLA (IO).

“It serves to inform all SPLA (IO) Sectors, Divisions, Brigades, and Battalions, also the entire population of South Sudan, especially the diehard supporters, sympathizers of the people’s movement that, the statement you might have seen floating on social media which declared the endorsement of Lt. General Duer Tut Duer, as the Chairman and Commander in Chief of SPLM/A (IO) is neither official nor has it been discussed on the table,” the statement said.

“Hence, this must be regarded as a one man decision and also a weak and an impulsive decision which lacks credibility because comrade Lt. General Duer Tut Duer, in the first place, should have consulted the top Leadership of the SPLM/A (IO) and also should be an unanimous decision to serves the interest of the entire movement rather than to monopolize the decision,” the statement added.

He revealed that a meeting of the SPLA-IO general command in Magenis this afternoon decided to disregard the decision taken by Duer Tut and called on the SPLM-IO membership to expect a ground-breaking news in the near future.

“Moreover, the military leadership of the SPLA (IO) has today held a meeting at Magenis, and the decision was made to disregard such imposed decision,” Brigadier General William Gatjiath said.

“In this decision, we realized that the SPLM/A (IO) as a movement has for sure experienced and suffered an inevitable maladministration and chaotic system which let everybody decides and claims leadership by his own. We therefore, asked all to remain calm and wait for valuable and ingredient news that will impress the movement,” he added.