Machar diplomats in Egypt denounce Gen. Gatwech’s ‘failed’ coup, reaffirm loyalty

CAIRO, EGYPT  —   South Sudan opposition diplomats loyal to First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny in the Egyptian capital Cairo have reaffirmed their unwavering loyalty to the main armed opposition leader and condemned General Gatwech’s ouster of Machar as a failed coup.

In a statement early this week, General Simon Gatwech Dual announced that he has ousted Machar and became the new SPLM-IO Chairman and Commander in Chief saying Machar has failed to defend the opposition group’s position on the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement.

In a statement to Sudans Post this evening, the spokesman of the SPLM-IO Chapter in Egypt, Gattiek Wichar, said they still remain loyal to Machar and won’t be confused by the many emerging rebel movements which he said are aimed at disturbing the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement.

“We the SPLM-IO leadership in Egypt still support H.E Dr. Riek Machar Teny, the  First Vice President of the Republic of South Sudan and we condemn in the strongest term possible the decision taken by Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual to stage a failed coup because it will just cause more divisions and it will not change anything in the current state of our country,” he said.

“As the SPLM-IO leadership in Egypt, we stand with the Chairman and Commander in Chief Dr. Riek Machar Teny and we denounce the failed coup of General Gatwech which is sponsored by the regime’s security agencies in Juba with the purpose of jeopardizing the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement,” he added.

The senior main armed opposition diplomat to Cairo further asked “all our supporters and members of the SPLM-IO in the Arab Republic of Egypt to remain vigilant and not to get confused by the new emerging groups that are after personal interests in contrary to the objectives of the SPLM/SPLA (IO).