Machar still an ‘active’ SPLM-IO member – General Gatwech’s group

JUBA – South Sudan’s main armed opposition faction, SPLM-IO, led by former opposition military chief General Simon Gatwech Dual has said that they still consider Machar as a normal member of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition, days after his ouster.

Last week, General Simon Gatwech and Olony led a coup against Machar and declared that he was no longer the leader of the main armed opposition group. General Gatwech has since declared himself the new SPLM-IO leader and commander in chief deputized by Gen. Olony.

The declaration led to a fierce fighting yesterday when elements of Machar’s Tiger battalion launched a ground attack on Gatwech-controlled Magenis following days of bombardment from a distant.

Speaking to Sudans Post this morning, Brigadier General William Gatjiath Deng, the spokesman of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition under Gatwech said they didn’t remove Machar from the SPLM-IO, but from the leadership of the group.

“Dr. Riek Machar Teny is still an active member of the SPLM/SPLA (IO). He was only removed as Chairman and Commander of the SPLM/SPLA (IO) and this does not affect his membership of SPLM-IO as a politician,” Gatjiath said from Magenis.

General Gatjiath further said they consider Machar has an option to return to Magenis “otherwise the leadership of the SPLM/SPLA (IO) will make a decision on his SPLM-IO membership very soon.”