Tingo refuses to return stamp, flies to Khartoum to meet ‘reformists’

JUBA – Former SPLM-IO Secretary-General Tingo Peter has refused to hand over the main armed opposition group’s stamp back to Machar and has traveled to the Sudanese capital Khartoum to meet anti-Machar group that identifies itself as ‘reformist’ group.

Tingo left the SPLM-IO on Tuesday in a surprise resignation, accusing Machar, the SPLM-IO leader and the country’s First vice President, of leadership shortcomings, including running the group ‘single-handedly.’

Speaking to Sudans Post this evening, a senior SPLM-IO official said Tingo has fled the country and has traveled to the Sudanese capital Khartoum with stamp in a trip he said aimed at meeting an anti-Machar group for possible meeting to try to remove the influential politician.

“This is to inform you that the former SPLM-IO Secretary-General Tingo Peter has traveled to Khartoum to carry out activities authorized by the regime here to try to dismantle the movement,” the official who requested not to be named said from Juba.

“He has refused to hand over the stamp and currently he is going to meet people like Duer Tut to try to remove the Chairman and Commander in Chief of the SPLM/SPLA (IO) there in Khartoum which will never happen that they will remove the chairman,” the official said.

In a statement this evening, Manawa Peter Gatkuoth, the SPLM-IO deputy chairperson of information committee and South Sudan’s minister water resources and irrigation, acknowledged the high-level defection.

“The leadership of SPLM/SPLA (IO) would like to inform its member and the people of South Sudan that it received the resignation of Secretary General, Cde Peter Tingo, from the party on 10 November 2020,” Manawa said in the statement extended to Sudans Post.

“His resignation did not come as a surprise to all of us since our coming to Juba, the secretary general of the party has changed all his thoughts and behaviors towards the party of SPLM/SPLA (IO),” he added in the statement.

The senior government and opposition official further asked Tingo to hand over the group’s stamp because he no long belongs there, reiterating the main armed opposition group’s commitment to the revitalized peace agreement signed in 2018 with the government.

“Due to his resignation, we urge him to hand over the documents and the stamp of the party, since he is no longer the party Secretary General and not a member of SPLM/SPLA (IO),,” he said.

“In conclusion, we want to reassure our members and the peace loving we are fully committed to the citizens of South Sudan that implementation of the revitalize peace agreement,” he further added.