General Khor Chuol’s activities ‘show he is not for peace’ – SPLA-IO

JUBA – South Sudan’s main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) led by First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny has denied attacking its former commander General James Khor Chuol saying the former opposition officer’s activities in Longechuk indicates he is not for peace.

This comes hours after General James Khor Chuol said in an interview with Sudans Post this afternoon that opposition forces allied to First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar went out from Longechuk town under the orders of the SPLM-IO-nominated Commissioner Dak Tut Dey to attack his forces’ hideout.

Speaking to Sudans Post this evening, Colonel Lam Paul Gabriel, the SPLA-IO military spokesman, denied the opposition forces are commanded by the Longechuk County commissioner and described General James Khor Chuol as an anti-peace element whose activities in the area are indicating that he is seeking to jeopardize the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement.

“A commissioner doesn’t have command over SPLA-IO forces. Khor Chuol should just give up being anti-peace and join hands with the SPLA-IO to implement the peace agreement, Col. Lam told Sudans Post on phone from the capital Juba.

“Khor Chuol defected to the SSPDF which is a peace partner to the SPLA-IO but his activities in Malual Gahoth show that he is not for peace,” he noted, adding that “the SPLA-IO didn’t attack him in anyway.”