SPLM-IO’s Kitgwang faction praises Odwar for ‘rejecting tyranny’

JUBA – South Sudan’s main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) Kitgwang faction has welcomed a decision by the deputy chairman of the SPLM-IO Henry Odwar for rejecting what the group has called tyranny.

This comes less than a week after Odwar who resigned as minister of mining in the revitalized unity government announced his full support or the Kitgwang faction led by General Simon Gatwech Dual.

Speaking to Sudans Post this afternoon, General William Gatjiath Deng, the spokesman of the SPLA-IO Kitgwang faction, said they welcome the decision by the SPLM-IO deputy chairman to join them.

“We welcome him, he is one of the most important figures in the SPLM-IO and thanks him for his bold decision. Dr. Riek and his group have demoted him for a very long time and the decision for him to join the Kitgwang declaration is a very good decision,” Gatjiath said from Magenis.

“Therefore, we thank him for rejecting tyranny of President Salva Kiir Mayardit and his colleague Riek Machar Teny who have been killing the people of South Sudan throughout the pass seven years in the name of power,” he added.

Separately, General Gatjiath denied in a statement extended to Sudans Post that there were disagreements between General Simon Gatwech Dual and General Johnson Olony Thabo and that the later convened a meeting of senior Shilluk commander in the opposition ranks.

“The Office of the military information for SPLM/A (IO) would once again inform the public, especially the diehard supporters of the People’s movement that, no meeting has been held at Magenis by the (Chollo) Military but it would be good enough to takes note from today, that our current structure has no two armies rather than the SPLA (IO) forces in their various bases. Moreover, it’s good to know that many people among us are propaganding and wrongly twisting the situation,” he said.

“Therefore, in Magenis (Kit-Gwang), we are for peace, and standing for the cause, vision, and the mission of the people’s movement and all matters pertaining to peace agreement shall be address peacefully based on the interest of the people of South Sudan,” he added.