General Simon Gatwech Dual accuses General Dhiling Keah of illegally distributing weapons  

JUBA – The Military Chief of Staff of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition General Simon Gatwech Dual has said that SPLA-IO director of military intelligence General Dhiling Keah Chuol whom he suspended last week is now buying and distributing weapons to SPLA-IO forces without his knowledge.

This comes days after General Gatwech issued an order suspending General Dhiling from his duties over accusations that the senior opposition commander was working outside the administrative box of the SPLA-IO’s military command.

“I am the Chief of General Staff of the whole of SPLA-IO. I suspended the Director of Military Intelligence for several reasons. He brought firearms for soldiers secretly without informing me who is the Chief of Staff,” Dual said in an interview with Radio Tamazuj.

“He brought military supplies without my knowledge and in secrecy. This is why I suspended him, because of these reasons. He brought firearms, vehicles, and other supplies without my knowledge. He has also not been coming to my place, the headquarters,” he added.

The top opposition commander further accused Dhiling of amassing a huge force outside Malakal without explaining to the military command of what it is intended for and also said Dhiling is promoting military officers even to high ranks.

“He diverted all the food and supplies of our forces. He has a large force in the Malakal area, about 60,000 forces. He promotes soldiers without my knowledge. How can you promote a warrant officer to a Brigadier? He even promotes people who are outside of the country, abroad in Europe, and then they give him money,” he said.

“What kind of officer is this? And he does not report to my place that is why I suspended him until these administrative issues are resolved. And the letter reinstating him is not from Dr. Riek Machar. The language in that document is not that of Dr. Machar,” he added.