Outrage as Gen. Gatwech meddles to dismiss Nuer community leaders in Sudan

KHARTOUM – South Sudan’s controversial opposition commander and leader of the SPLM-IO Kitgwang faction General Simon Gatwech Dual has sparked outrage among the Nuer community after he meddled in the community affairs by dismissing and appointing community leaders.

In a statement on Wednesday, General Gatwech dismissed the Nuer Community Chairman in Khartoum along with his deputy and the secretary general after he accused the community board membership of still “being adamant” to the changes of the SPLM-IO leadership.

Speaking to Sudans Post this morning, two members of the Nuer Community in Khartoum said Gen. Gatwech has replaced the Nuer Community chairman and his deputy as well as the secretary and vowed not to recognize the changes made by General Gatwech.

“He is a political or military leader, I don’t know, and therefore there is no reason for him to come and meddle in the affairs of the Nuer community which is just a community organization and has nothing to do with politics of what he is doping and other politicians,” one of the two Nuer Community members said.

The other official said there are tensions among the Nuer community members in Khartoum as a section of the Nuer Community leadership in Sudan seems to be on General Simon Gatwech’s side, something the Nuer community official says will bring disunity and quarrel among the community members.

“Now some people are standing with the order of General Simon Gatwech and this will likely cause instability within the Nuer Community and we are not ready for that. So, our appeal to Gatdual is that he should not meddle in the affairs of the community, he should stand away from community issues,” he added.