Machar says Gatwech, Olony now part of government

JUBA – South Sudan’s First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny on Monday last week sent a circular to all SPLA-IO forces declaring the breakaway SPLA-IO Kitgwang faction has become a part of the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF).

This comes after General Simon Gatwech Dual, the leader of the Kitgwang faction, and General Johnson Olony Thabo, the leader of the Agwelek forces, signed agreements with President Salva Kiir Mayardit’s government paving way for the integration of their forces into the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces.

In the circular, Machar urged his forces to cease all hostility with General Gatwech’s forces because, according to him, he has become a part of the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces which is a peace partner to the main armed opposition.

“The Kit Gwang group has signed on January 16, 2022, in Khartoum, a defection agreement to SSPDF and SPLM-IG called ‘Khartoum Peace Agreement’, the agreement is written in two documents namely: 1. Agreement between the Sudan Peoples’ Movement in Government (SPLM-IG) and the Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement/Army-in Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) Kit Gwang on status of forces; and 2. Khartoum Peace Agreement (KPA) between the Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement-in Government and Agwelek Forces,” Machar wrote.

“By this agreement, Kit Gwang has joined SSPDF and SPLM-IG, and forces of Kit Gwang group are now part of SSPDF. As such, SPLM/SPLA-IO forces are to disengage and ceasefire with Kit Gwang forces, just like the currently existing ceasefire between the SPLM/SPLA (IO) and the SSPDF as per the Khartoum Declaration of Agreement of 27 June 2018 which came into effect on 1 July 2018,” he added.

He also ordered his forces to secure navigation on the White Nile.

For his part, Puok Both Baluang, the SPLM-IO director of information and acting spokesman for first vice president, confirmed Machar’s message to all his SPLA-IO units and said they remain committed to implementing the revitalized peace agreement.

“This is an internal communication to our forces after the Kit Gwang group signed an agreement to join the SPLM-IG and SSPDF last Sunday in Khartoum,” Both said, according to Radio Tamazuj.