‘I am not after money and positions’ – General Gatwech says as he rejects presidential appointment

JUBA – The Chief of General Staff of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition SPLM/SPLA (IO) General Simon Gatwech Dual has rejected the appointment this week by President Salva Kiir as a presidential advisor, saying he is not after money and positions like other comrades he didn’t name and who are in Juba.

General Simon Gatwech who was also relieved from his position as military chief of staff of the opposition group was appointed as a Presidential Advisor for peace on June 22 by President Salva Kiir Mayardit. He now says the position is not in the revitalized peace agreement signed in September 2018 by the SPLM-IO and the government.

“First of all, this post as peace advisor is not mentioned in the revitalized peace agreement. Secondly, I am still in the bush and I am not a government member. It is Doctor Riek Machar who went to Juba and took the oath of office and he began to drink the water of the country. Thirdly, our forces that have been taken to the training centers since 2019 up to now have not graduated. This is a delay tactic by the government in Juba,” General Gatwech Dual said, according to Radio Tamazuj.

“They have given me such a big post but this is a delay tactic. If all my forces are graduated, police, prison service, and wildlife following the peace agreement, I will go to Juba. But if forces are not graduated, why should I go to Juba?” the powerful opposition commander asked.

General Gatwech further said he is not after positions, but a staunch supporter and advocate of the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement signed by the government and several other opposition s groups.

“I am not behind money; I am not behind any position but I am behind the right to fully implement the peace agreement. Something we agreed on and that is what I am following now,” he said, adding that he has not been consulted by the leadership of the SPLM-IO on the position.

“No one has consulted me,” he said.