Kiir’s “unhealthy spirit” towards peace blamed for senior SPLA-IO commander’s defection

JUBA, OCTOBER 8, 2023 (SUDANS POST) – A South Sudan civil society activist has blamed President Salva Kiir Mayardit for what he calls an ‘unhealthy spirit’ towards the implementation process of the revitalized peace agreement over the defection of senior SPLA-IO commanders.

Yesterday, former SPLA-IO sector two commander General Simon Maguek Gai, former SPLA-IO Division 4B commander General Samuel Dok Wanjang, General Paul Gatnor Ngundeng, General Bol Duoth Bakam, General William Dak Gatkuoth Geer and General Kawai defected to Kiir.

Maguek accused First Vice President Riek Machar who is also the leader of the main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A-IO) of nepotism and said that many people within the group will yet follow his step though he said he defected along with 300 people.

Speaking to Sudans Post this morning, the Executive Director of Centre for Peace and Advocacy (CPA) Ter Manyang Gatwech said the “their defection from SPLA-IO to SSPDF or SPLA is not inline of the R-ARCSS” said his organization is concerned by what he calls an unhealthy spirit of Kiir on peace implementation.

“Executive Director of the Center for Peace and Advocacy (CPA) and Chairperson of Civil Society Coalition on Defense of Civic Space (CSCDCS) is deeply concerned about the unhealthy spirit being taken by President’s Kiir always,” he said.

While warning for another war if leaders do not take action, the activist said that graduated SPLA-IO components of the necessary unified forces are not being paid salaries like their colleagues in the SSPDF, something he said is and approach to derail the peace process.

“Their defection is the result of frustrations and lack of motivation from Dr. Machar’s side. South Sudan is heading to another deadly war if the leaders are not careful with their words and actions,” Manyang said.

“SPLA-IO [soldiers] does not receive their salaries while their colleagues who graduated with them received their salaries. This is an intentional approach not to implement the peace,” the activist further added.

He concluded by saying that “there are some individuals within both sides who do not want South Sudan to have durable peace because they benefit in this current confusion styles of leadership under President Kiir and First Vice president, Dr. Riek Machar.”

“Those individuals should learn their lessons from the 2016 war in the country,” he added.