Gen. Gatwech reiterates rejection for calls to move talks with Kiir to Juba

KHARTOUM – South Sudan opposition commander and leader of the SPLM-IO breakaway Kitgwang faction Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual has reiterated rejection for invitation to move peace talks with President Salva Kiir Mayardit to Juba, preferring to engage the government outside the South Sudanese capital.

The former SPLA-IO chief of military staff said he remains committed to the peaceful settlement of the conflict and was open to talks with the government to amicably resolve issues that caused a split in SPLM-IO.

“That was only a proposal from President Salva Kiir. We heard it from Tut Kew, his security adviser, but already Sudan was chosen for mediation, and we have made the nomination of our members to represent us in negotiations with the government,” he said in an interview with the Paris-based Sudan Tribune.

“This could not proceed because of the political situation in Sudan. But when it is over, we will resume the talks, and if it takes longer, I hope another IGAD [Intergovernmental Authority on Development] country will come in,” he added.

The chief of the splinter group asserted their readiness for dialogue with any party willing to listen to them, raising hopes for peaceful resolution of the conflict.

“We believe in peaceful dialogue, and we are open to talk with anybody who wants to listen to us”, he said.

Dual pointed out that key provisions in the 2018 revitalized peace agreement were not implemented, adding that lack of political will is derailing the implementation of the security arrangement that includes the graduation of the unified forces.

In August, the former SPLM-IO army chief of staff and other military leaders announced that Machar has been ousted as head of the armed opposition.

Machar, however, dismissed the declaration as false, citing changes he had already introduced prior to the decision by military leaders in the Mangenis area.

The move caused divisions and several senior military officers once allied to Machar have since defected to join Dual’s group and the South Sudan army (SSPDF) violating the 2018 peace deal, which abhors defections and splits.

The two SPLM/A-IO factions have clashed twice since August in Upper Nile, leaving more than 60 soldiers killed.

Last week, the chairperson of the ceasefire monitoring body (CTSAMVM), Teshome Gemechu Aderie told journalists at a new conference that division within the Machar-led armed opposition movement has disrupted the ongoing plans to pass out the first batch of the 83,000 unified forces.

“Such changes of allegiances are damaging the peace process. Therefore, we are seriously monitoring it to get any timely updates,” said Gemechu.

“CTSAMVM has been made aware of several changes of allegiance from the SPLM/A-IO to the SSPDF in Upper Nile state which has reportedly resulted in skirmishes in the Mathiang area,” he added.

The chairperson of the ceasefire monitoring body disclosed that four senior SPLA-IO commanders have crossed over to the SSPDF in the past few weeks.

Gemechu called upon IGAD that mediated the 2018 peace deal, and the Revitalized Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC), the body that monitors the peace deal to engage the parties to stop military defections.

“CTSAMVM has been monitoring the situation in the Magenis area as closely as possible, and calls on both factions of the SPLM/A-IO to refrain from any further violence,” he stressed.

Graduation of the 83,000 unified forces is critical for security during the ongoing transitional period.