Machar no longer SPLM-IO chairman – Duer Tut

JUBA – South Sudan’s First Vice President and prominent opposition leader Dr. Riek Machar Teny is no longer the chairman of the SPLM-IO, according to senior member and Machar critic Duer Tut Duer, who previously said that SPLM-IO membership applies only to those who are in the bush, and not those who are in Juba for the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement.

This comes after SPLA-IO military chief General Simon Gatwech Dual suspended in a letter the Director of Military Intelligence of the main armed opposition group, Dhiling Keah Chuol, following speculations that he was falsely implicating the chief of staff in rebellion against the movement.

“I informed you that: SPLM/A-IO belongs to those who remain in the Bush.  Riek Machar is now the First Vice President; he is not any longer the Chairman of the SPLM-IO. A First Vice President cannot be also a leader of a Rebel Movement,” Duer wrote on his social media Facebook page.

“The below message from Riek Machar does not work and doesn’t make any sense at all. The Message from the SPLA-IO Leadership is genuine and should not be ignored instead all should work with it and accordingly.

“The Message from Riek Machar Teny the Former Chairman of the SPLM-IO and the Former Commander In Chief of the SPLA-IO, doesn’t work and should not be considered, all should ignore it.

“Riek Machar should not continue to take the Members of the SPLM-IO for granted. It is unfortunate that up to this point Riek Machar has not realized that he is implicitly removed from the Chairmanship of the SPLM-IO.

“Please ignore the below message from Riek Machar to CACTUS and All Units, it doesn’t work.

“Concerning the messages in the social media about the assassination plans against some leaders of the SPLM- IO by the supporters of Riek Machar are nonsense and should not be taken as a concern, these are propaganda from a defeated group.”