Gen. Gatwech returns to Magenis

JUBA – South Sudan opposition commander and leader of the Kitgwang SPLM/SPLA (IO) faction, General Simon Gatwech Dual, has this evening returned to Magenis where he has been based since he attempted, in August, to remove First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny as chairman and commander in chief of the main armed opposition group.

General Gatwech has since October been in the Sudanese capital Khartoum in an attempt to try to meet President Salva Kiir representatives to renegotiate the implementation of the security arrangements provided for in the revitalized peace agreement which has seen delays over lack of political will from the parties.

The expected talks between General Gatwech and the government was however delayed late last month when commander in chief of Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and leader of the defunct Transitional Sovereign Council, General Abdelfattah al Burhan declared a state of emergency and dissolving the transitional government, pushing Sudan into crisis.

There have been also reports that General Gatwech’s presence in Khartoum was forced and that he was not allowed to return to Magenis. Reports had it that General Simon Gatwech and his deputy General Johnson Olony have been asked to either stay in Sudan or to be deported to Juba to avoid using Sudan as a launching pad for attacks against South Sudan.

In a statement this evening, SPLA-IO spokesman allied to the Kitgwang fact, Brig. Gen. William Gatjiath Deng said General Gatwech has returned to Magenis this evening, but did not state whether the talks with the government has collapsed.

“The Office of information for Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition, S PLA (IO) would like to inform the general public, especially the SPLA (IO) bases all over the country and the diehard supporters of the people’s movement that, the Chairman and Commander in Chief (C-in-C) Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual along with the whole team has arrived at the (HQs Magenis) this morning,” Gatjiath said in the statement.