Opposition faction to merge with Gatwech’s SPLA-IO Kitgwang

JUBA – A little-known opposition group has announced its intention to integrate into the breakaway SPLA-IO Kitgwang faction led by General Simon Gatwech Dual, according to a statement extended to Sudans Post on Saturday.

On Thursday, the so-called South Sudan Rescue Front (SSRF) dispatched a team of senior officials to meet General Gatwech in the Sudanese capital Khartoum to discuss the merger in which they announced to Gatwech their willingness and readiness to join him.

“The Interim Chairman and Commander in Chief, Gen Simon Gatwech Dual receive and meet with the delegation of South Sudan Rescue Front this afternoon,” Gatwech’s press secretary Lt. Col. Nyang Gony Gai said in the statement extended to Sudans Post.

“The delegation of South Sudan Rescue Front, who was headed by Secretary General of the faction Hon. Budr Ramadan Hassan, expressed their willingness as well as announcing their alliance with the SPLM/A-IO Kitgwang and confirm their readiness to contribute to the consolidation of the opposition unity with other groups,” he added.

The opposition mouthpiece said the meeting between Gatwech and the delegation of the SSRF was attended also by senior SPLA-IO Kitgwang commanders such as the group’s deputy chief of staff for logistics and the military spokesman of the group as well as the deputy secretary-general of the movement.