Gen. Gatwech Dual names new press secretary

JUBA – South Sudan’s main armed opposition commander and leader of the breakaway Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition (SPLM/SPLA-IO) Kitgwang faction, General Simon Gatwech Dual, has named a new press secretary days after his press secretary James Kalany Mamuon resigned.

Kalany said in a statement extended to Sudans Post that he has resigned effective from March 2nd 2021 and said he had joined the group to assist in its search for peace with the government of President Salva Kiir Mayardit which has so far been signed last January.

“This is to inform my friends, colleagues and the general public that I have resigned as the Press Secretary of Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual, the leader of SPLM-IO Kitgwang,” Mamuon said in the statement, a copy of which was seen by Sudans Post on Wednesday night.

Kalany was appointed last year following the split of the SPLM/SPLA (IO) which was brought about by an attempt by Gen. Gatwech Dual and other senior SPLA-IO commanders to remove First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny as chairman and commander in chief of the SPLM/SPLA (IO).

The split, which took place in August last, resulted in a continued internal fighting between opposition soldiers who support either sides of the main armed opposition group which is also a key signatory to the revitalized peace agreement signed by First Vice President Machar and President Salva Kiir Mayardit.

In a statement this afternoon, General Gatwech who is in Magenis said he has named Colonel Tito Khan Wuok as the new press secretary for him with effect from March 3rd 2021.

“Based on the structural document of the SPLM/A (IO), and reference to Kit-Gwang Declaration, I 1st Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual The Interim Chairman And Commander in Chief of the SPLM/A (IO), hereby appoint Col. Tito Khan Wuok as the Press Secretary in the Office Of the Interim Chairman and Commander in Chief of the SPLM/A (IO), with effect from 3rd March 2022,” General Gatwech said in the statement.