Aug 2, 2021 — The military command of the Sudan People Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition under the leadership of the Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual, has declared non-allegiance to the First Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar Teny.
According to a statement issued from Magenis, Upper Nile State, the military command has declared that it is no longer taking orders from the C-in-C, Dr. Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon.
“This note serves to inform the SPLA/M(IO) diehard supporters, members and public at large.” Read part of the statement.
“Please be informed that, the SPLM/A (IO) leadership in liberated area is not any longer taking orders from the SPLA(IO) in government under the leadership of Dr Riek Machar Teny, therefore the military leadership under the chief of General Staff First Lieutenant General, Simon Gatwech Dual will inform you soon about the current internal challenges facing the SPLM/A (IO), and would further advise the entire members to stop receiving fake news fabricated by the SPLA(IO) in government, whose aims is to deceive the entire members of SPLM/A(IO) and the population in frantic of implementing the progine peace agreement in the country.” The statement continued.
According to the letter, being attributed to Brig. Gen. William Gatjiath Deng, the SPLM/A-IO military leadership still acknowledges the Chief of General Staff as their Chief of Staff contrary to statements from Juba that are being attributed to Dr. Machar.
“The SPLA(IO) military leadership would like to take this opportunity to inform you that First Lieutenant General, Simon Gatwech Dual, is still serving as the official Chief of General Staff (COGS) for SPLA(IO) forces.” Brig. General William Gatjiath Deng, SPLA (IO) Army Spokesman, Magenis/ Kitgwang HQs, South Sudan said.
For the last five years, the SPLM/A-IO has been going through many internal crises leading to multiple defections and internal conflicts with Dr. Machar being blamed for poor leadership and inability to resolve issues.
So far majority of those who formed the SPLM/A-IO alongside Machar have defected to form their own parties or returned to the SPLM/SSPDF of Salva Kiir, leaving Machar in confusion.
While the unarmed group in Juba is still loosely attached to Machar, the First Vice President is loosing popularity in SPLM/A-IO liberated areas.
On the other hands, the SPLM/A-IO leadership in Juba is facing security crises as their members are reportedly being targeted, harassed or shot at by Salva Kiir’s men in uniform.
