Gatwech, Gen. Cirilo’ top military commander discuss alliance

JUBA — The leader of the breakaway Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) Kitgwang faction, Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual, has this afternoon met Gen. Faiz Ismail, the military chief of staff of the National Salvation Front (NAS) led by Gen. Thomas Cirilo Swaka, to discuss possible alliance.

This comes a week after Gatwech, whose peace deal with President Salva Kiir Mayardit has not yet been implemented, called for alliance among holdout opposition groups in a bid to push President Kiir down from power.

In a statement this afternoon, the SPLA-IO Kitgwang spokesman Brig. Gen. Alfred Gach Thot said the meeting was held in the Sudanese capital Khartoum and was attended by senior military officers of the SPLA-IO Kitgwang.

“Today, our Chairman and Commander in Chief of SPLM/A-IO Kitgwang Declaration,1st Lt Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual has met with National Salvation front (NAS) top military officer under Gen.Thomas Cirilo Swaka,” the Kitgwang faction said in the statement a copy of which was extended to Sudans Post.

According to the statement, the NAS delegation was led by the group’s chief of staff, Gen. Faiz Ismail and the NAS Country Representative to Sudan Amb. Louis Ramadan.

“The visit came in response to the call that was made two weeks go by the SPLM/A-IO leader to forges for the military cooperation to all oppositions,” the statement added.