Opposition officer urges Gatwech to avoid ‘divisive military politics’ to gain trust

JUBA – South Sudan opposition commander and leader of the breakaway SPLM-IO Kitgwang faction has been told by a senior member of the SPLA-IO Kitgwang faction to avoid what the officer said is a divisive military politics that can turn away followers.

“The Kitgwang faction was officially declared on 3 August 2021 under the able leadership of the 1st Lt. Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual. Since the establishment of the faction, the leadership of the Kitgwang faction has not declared public restructuring of its forces in order to have an organized force, hence leaving soldiers who would wish to join the army with no option,” Col. Gabriel Mogga told Sudans Post in an email.

“Being a son to a South Sudanese chief,a former government of South Sudan employee, with the spirit of nationhood at heart and in the interest of achieving a national cause,I am writing to request the SPLA-IO Kitgwang faction leadership to establish an inclusive army that will achieve the interest of all the people of South Sudan,” he added.

He said there is need for the opposition faction to organize which he said is necessary and badly needed given the August 3 chaotic announcement in which General Simon Gatwech Dual attempted to remove First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny as leader of the main armed opposition group.

“There is need to restructure and have an inclusive and well-established force with a clear command and administration for the SPLA-IO kit-gwang faction. Establishing an army that will include soldiers from the three great regions of South Sudan avails much in achieving a national interest,” he said.

“The SPLA-IO Kitgwang faction needs to be inclusive to fight for a national cause. The SPLA-IO Kitgwang leaders should prioritize interests of the citizens of South Sudan from the three great regions of the country above themselves and above their individual interests,” he added.

He further said that the “SPLA-IO Kitgwang leadership should avert from divisive military politics in order to gain momentum from membership of the solders from all the regions of the country. There is need for the Kitgwang faction under the leadership of 1st Lt. General Simon Gatwech Dual to welcome to its force soldiers who would wish to join its ranks.”