Gen. Gatwech, Tutkew discuss peace process

JUBA – South Sudan opposition commander and leader of the SPLM-IO Kitgwang faction Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual has met President Salva Kiir Mayardit’s security advisor Tutkew Gatluak Manimeh who is in the Sudanese capital Khartoum.

President Salva Kiir Mayardit last week sent a high-level delegation to the Sudanese capital Khartoum led by Gatluak. He was also accompanied by South Sudan’s newly appointed foreign minister Mayiik Ayii Deng.

The SPLM-IO’s breakaway Kitgwang faction’s delegation was led by General Simon Gatwech himself, and his deputy General Johnson Olony Thabo and in exchange of statement during their meeting in Khartoum, the Tutkew and Gatwech reiterated their commitment to peace.

“I want to make it clear that I am for peace, I am not for war and all my forces do respect the ceasefire agreement that was declared in 2018 and we are happy that the government has send a delegation to come to talk to us,” Gatwech said.

For his part, Kiir’s security advisor Tut Gatluak said the government is not interested in seeing another war in the country saying the government is ready to negotiate with anyone who is still carrying arms to achieve stability.