Sudan denies harbouring General Gatwech, Olony

KHARTOUM – The Sudanese government has said that it is concerned about yesterday’s clashes between SPLM-IO factions and denied claims by SPLA-IO spokesman Colonel Lam Paul Gabriel that it is hosting General Gatwech and General Johnson Olony Thabo.

In a statement following fighting in Magenis on Saturday, the SPLA-IO spokesman in Juba said “The SPLA-IO is aware that Gen. Gatwech Dual and Lt. Gen. Johnson Ulony were evacuated to Sudan.”

He urged the Sudanese government “to maintain its neutrality by keeping the two in Sudan and not to allow them come back and cause more insecurity in the area.”

In response, the Sudanese foreign ministry dismissed the presence of the splinter leaders on its territory and stressed Sudan’s neutrality.

“South Sudanese stability is a strategic objective for its government,” said a statement released on Saturday evening.

“The Government of Sudan is closely monitoring the situation at the site of the clashes, as it is adjacent to the southern border of Sudan, and will not allow any armed activity inside Sudanese territory by any party against the other,” further added the statement.

Since the collapse of the al-Bashir regime, this is the first time that a South Sudanese party to the revitalized peace agreement accuses Khartoum of backing armed groups in South Sudan.

Besides its commitment to follow-up the peace implementation process in South Sudan, the Sudanese Prime Minister is the current chair of the IGAD bloc which brokered the peace agreement.

Several South Sudanese armed groups were linked to the Sudanese army before South Sudan independence as they fought against the historical SPLA.