Machar, General Gatwech Dual reach consensus on SPLA-IO military intelligence director

JUBA – South Sudan’s main armed opposition leader and First Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar Teny, and his military chief General Simon Gatwech Dual have reached a consensus to resolve dispute between the two over the SPLA-IO’s military intelligence chief, sources close to both leaders told Sudans Post this afternoon.

On May 19, General Gatwech Dual suspended the SPLA-IO director of military intelligence General Dhiling Keah Chuol accusing him of conspiracy and defamation of senior SPLA-IO commanders.

Machar dived in instantly and declared the suspension null and void because “it is only the commander-in-chief who can take such measure [and] as such this press statement is to be ignored with immediate effect.”

Speaking to Sudans Post this afternoon, a senior opposition commander close to General Gatwech Dual said from the Sudanese capital Khartoum that Machar and General Gatwech Dual have resolved the dispute and that a team will be formed to find out the causes of dispute.

“The Chairman and Commander in Chief H.E Dr. Riek Machar Teny and the Chief of General Staff 1^st Lt. General Simon Gatwech Dual have resolved the dispute. General Simon Gatwech has agreed to suspend his order of suspension and General Dhiling to continue his duties,” the opposition commander who is not authorized to speak to the media told Sudans Post.

“On this basis, the H.E the Chairman and Commander in Chief will form a team that will investigate what would have led to a state of misunderstanding among top leaders of the movement because it do not repeat itself next time,” the commander added.

Separately, another opposition official close to Machar in Juba confirmed the two men have resolved the problem and were “able to speak at length on Wednesday which is something good and a show of unity among the two comrades.”