Gatwech, Olony won’t go to Juba even if they sign peace deal with Kiir over security concerns – aide

JUBA – A senior South Sudan opposition official allied to factional SPLM/SPLA (IO) leader General Simon Gatwech Dual has said the controversial commander and General Johnson Olony Thabo, won’t travel to Juba even if a peace agreement is signed between them and the government of President Salva Kiir Mayardit over security concerns.

The senior opposition official who refused not to be named said the fear by the two opposition commanders to return to Juba is evidenced in several attempts by President Salva Kiir Mayardit to assassinate them, saying Kiir himself had directed an attempt to kill General Johnson Olony in 2015 before defecting to Machar the a few month later.

“What I am sure of is that 1^st Lt. Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual and Lt. Gen. Johnson Olony Thabo will not return to Juba in the near future even if they reach a compromise agreement with the regime of Salva Kiir Mayardit to end the conflict in the country because of their security,” the official told Sudans Post from the Sudanese capital Khartoum.

“One of the reasons is that the regime has attempted to take the lives of the two generals at several occasions. General Olony was about to be killed in 2015 when he fled to join the SPLM-IO which was led back then by Dr. Riek Machar, because when his deputy was killed, he was about to be killed,” the official said.

The rebel official said the regime in Juba had also tried to kill General Simon Gatwech Dual in December 2013 following his release from detention saying he was released because they don’t want him to be killed while in the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) custody.

“General Gatwech fled Juba because he was about to be killed. He was in jail and he was released so that he can be targeted outside the government custody. In August, the regime of Salva Kiir conspired with Riek Machar and attacked out base in Magenis with the purpose of killing the two generals,” he said.

“So, these people they are not joking, they have proven beyond doubt that they are real killers and no one can go to them to be killed. Gen. Gatwech and Gen. Olony are citizens of South Sudan who want to serve the people of South Sudan and save them from the dictatorial regime of President Salva Kiir and Riek Machar, the first vice president,” the official added.