SPLA-IO denies removal of military chief, says ‘enemy of peace’ faked Machar’s signature

JUBA – South Sudan’s main armed opposition group led by First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny has distanced itself from a letter circulating on social media purporting the removal, by Machar, of the SPLA-IO Chief of General Staff General Simon Gatwech Dual.

The letter seen by Sudans Post also purported that the top opposition commander was replaced by respected SPLA-IO commander General Gabriel Duop Lam with immediate effect and also alleged the removal of the SPLA-IO spokesman General William Gatjiath Deng replacing him with his deputy Col. Lam Paul Gabriel.

In a brief social media statement, Machar’s press office said the letter was not authored by the main armed opposition leader and was forged by the enemies of peace apparently to complicate further the current SPLM/SPLA (IO) situation.

“It was not authored by the Chairman and Commander-in-Chief of the SPLM/SPLA (IO),” James Gatdet Dak, the Press Secretary in the Office of the First Vice President wrote in a statement seen by Sudans Post.

“An enemy of peace faked it,” he added.

For his part, the deputy SPLA-IO spokesman Col. Lam Paul Gabriel who is currently in Juba said in a separate statement that the letter is meant by people he didn’t name to cause disunity in the SPLM/SPLA (IO).

“This is forged and fake document meant to cause disunity among the SPLA-IO,” Lam said. “Please, disregard it.”