Machar hasn’t conducted meeting with commanders since 2017 – Gen. Gatwech’s faction

JUBA – South Sudan’s First Vice President and SPLM-IO leader Dr. Riek Machar Teny has never conducted any meeting with his field commanders including the former SPLA-IO chief of General Staff General Simon Gatwech Dual, according to a statement by the Kitgwang SPLM-IO faction.

In the statement, Brigadier General William Gatjiath Deng, the spokesman of the SPLA-IO faction led by General Simon Gatwech Dual, said since 2017 Machar had ever conducted any meeting with his generals following his arrest in South Africa and after his release in 2018 and said General Simon Gatwech had refused calls by Machar’s current allies to have him removed from his position while in South Africa.

“The former leader of the SPLM/A (IO) Dr Riek Machar, had never conducted a meeting with his military command’s leadership since 2017, and he was stranded in South Africa for two years while the military leadership under the former chief of General Staff, who is currently the interim Chairman and Commander in Chief (C-in-C) General Simon Gatwech Dual, had tirelessly worked hard in his absence,” he said in the statement extended to Sudans Post.

“Those politicians whom you can see today are enjoying the R-TGONU in Juba, were the ones to topple him early before,” the strong-worded statement added.

The statement further accused unnamed politicians who were calling for Machar’s removal of again sending him to Juba without first the completion of the security arrangements provided for in the revitalized peace agreement accusing of Machar of tactically surrendering to the regime in Juba.

“As a result, he was pushed by the same politicians to Juba without proper management and locked himself out from the movement, he was then disconnected communication with the Military Command’s Leadership and the grassroots levels undoubtedly made a tactical surrendering to the regime,” the statement further added.