SPLA-IO downplays continued refusal by Gen. Gatwech to handover military chief position

JUBA — South Sudan’s main armed opposition group, SPLA-IO, has downplayed the continued refusal by its military chief, General Simon Gatwech Dual, to handover the position following his removal by the opposition commander in chief Dr. Riek Machar Teny.

General Gatwech told Sudans Post yesterday that he remains the SPLA-IO chief of general staff despite his removal, in June, by Machar who is also the First Vice President saying all SPLA-IO forces in the bush were still under his command.

Contacted by Sudans Post, newly-appointed SPLA-IO spokesman, Colonel Lam Paul Gabriel, said the leadership of the SPLA-IO in Juba hasn’t yet received any official communication from General Gatwech asserting what he calls an ‘alleged refusal’ to leave the top opposition military role.

“We never got any communication from the former chief of staff. Gen. Simon Gatwech for still insisting to be the chief of staff and refusing reassignments of Brig. Gen. William Gatjiath Deng,” Col. Paul told a Sudans Post reporter in Juba this on Thursday.

Colonel Lam who is also the defense ministry spokesman said the leadership of the SPLA-IO is awaiting for General Gatwech’s return to Juba to take up his position of presidential advisor which he previously rejected.

“What we know is that the situation is a kind of complicated and we are only waiting for him to come to Juba to take up his assignment. There is nothing we are going to do but we are still waiting for him to come to Juba,” he said.

The opposition military spokesman further revealed that Gen. Gatwech was still in communication with Machar and the parties are implementing the revitalized peace agreement and will soon reunify the rival forces to form the country’s professional army.

“At the moment we are implementing the peace agreement and in the peace agreement, these forces are going to be unified, so there is no appointment at the moment that has taken place,” he said.