General Gatwech vows to reject ‘premature’ return to Juba

JUBA – South Sudan’s SPLM-IO factional leader General Simon Gatwech Dual has said that he won’t accept what he calls a ‘premature’ return to the country’s capital Juba until all provisions of the revitalized peace agreement – most importantly the security arrangements – are completed.

General Gatwech is a controversial former SPLA-IO chief of staff who attempted – in early August – to remove First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny from the leadership of the SPLM/SPLA (IO) following a three-day gathering of top opposition commanders at Kitgwang, a northern-most town located in northern Upper Nile state.

He declared himself Interim Chairman and Commander in Chief of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition and vowed to engage in any talks with President Salva Kiir Mayardit’s government that may trigger genuine implementation of the revitalized peace agreement which he said has been compromised by Machar.

Following the declaration, First Vice President Machar dismissed the replacement as an attempt by unidentified ‘peace spoilers’ who he said want to do away with the implementation of the security arrangements which is the most important, but difficult, part of the revitalized peace agreement.

The SPLM-IO mainstream in Juba has also accused General Simon Gatwech Dual of being used for anti-peace purposes by the government. Some pro-Machar activists have also accused Gatwech if planning to join the government of President Salva Kiir pointing to a June recorded phone call in which General Gatwech’s media aide Brigadier-General William Gatjiath Deng has revealed how he met General Akol Koor Kuc for possible return to Juba.

However, speaking to Sudans Post on Wednesday, General Simon Gatwech Dual said he won’t return to Juba unless the security arrangements is implemented fully as provided for in the revitalized peace agreement.

“First of all I am a man of my words,” Gen. Gatwech said from Kitgwang. “I will never go to Juba unless the security arrangement which we signed as SPLM-IO and government is implemented by Salva Kiir because this is the only provision of the agreement that brings peace and stability in our country. So, that premature decision to go to Juba will not happen on my side, time will tell who is who.”