BREAKING | SPLA-IO commander abandons Machar, joins Gatwech

JUBA – A senior opposition commander allied to First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny has declared his intention to join the breakaway opposition SPLA-IO Kitgwang faction led by General Simon Gatwech Dual, saying the revitalized peace agreement is not being implemented in letter and spirit.

Speaking to Sudans Post in an exclusive interview this afternoon, Brigadier General Francis Jackson Rock, one of the commanders of the SPLA-IO in Western Equatoria’s Mundri East said he has decided to abandon the SPLA-IO under First Vice President Machar because the parties to the revitalized peace agreement are not implementing the agreement as agreed.

“I have decided to leave the SPLA-IO group under Dr. Riek Machar because the peace agreement in Juba is not being implemented and also Riek Machar is in jail in Juba and this is an indication that there is something wrong with this agreement which is being implemented in Juba,” Gen. Francis said.

“So, the best thing to do is to join the main stream of the SPLM/SPLA (IO) under H.E General Simon Gatwech Dual to liberate out people from the dictatorship of President Salva Kiir Mayardit and that of Riek Machar because our people need a real peace, not a trick,” he added.

The opposition commander further said that peace and stability in South Sudan will not be achieved with signing of any agreement with President Salva Kiir Mayardit saying the South Sudanese head of state is not ready to implement any agreement he sign.

“Peace will not come with this peace. A number of peace agreements have been made, in 2015, in 2018 and everything going on in Juba does not have a peace in it. The solution is that this government will be changed,” he said.

“If there is no change there must be war because we want peace because there is no stability in Juba. The insecurity in Juba continue,” he added.