STATEMENT | Top SPLM-IO politicians from Jonglei debunk Kitgwang Declaration

JUBA – A group of South Sudanese politicians from Jonglei state serving different roles in the revitalized unity government has criticized General Simon Gatwech Dual’s last week attempt to remove First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny as the leader of the main armed opposition group, SPLM-IO.

The group said in the statement below said the attempt by the controversial opposition commander was the work of unnamed peace spoilers who are longing to undermine the implementation of chapter two of the revitalized peace agreement which deals with security arrangements that provides for the reunification of the rival forces.

Read below the full text statement.   

SUDAN PEOPLE’S LIBERATION MOVEMENT

SPLM/SPLA (IO)

JONGLEI

18^TH AUGUST 2021.

SUB: CONDEMNATION OF KITGWANG DECLARATION

 

We the members of Jonglei area ( The former Bor District) do hereby condemn the Kitgwang Declaration in the strongest terms possible and remains loyal and committed to the Apirl 2014 Nasir conference that endorsed Cde Dr. Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon, PHD, as the Chairman and commander-in-chief of SPLM/A-IO, and who has also been reaffirmed by many conferences thereof including the recent December, 2020 National conference held in Juba.

With this, we call upon Gen. Simon Gatwech, who happened to be the leader of Kitgwang Declaration, and the entire group to denounce their faction and opt for the peaceful settlement to halt this uncalled internal crisis within SPLM/A-IO.
Kitgwang leadership must adhere to the calls for peaceful settlement including the following calls from the actors and/or signatories to the R. ARCISS.

1. The IGAD council of ministers extra-ordinary 73rd session held on 9th August 2021 call upon the Kitgwang military commanders to forthwith halt offensive against the SPLA-IO forces and accept the internal dialogue and reach the lasting solution.
2. The Presidency held emergency meeting on 10th and condemned the Kitgwang group declaration and call for the ceasefire and immediate resolution of the internal differences.
3. South Sudan council of chiefs condemned the Kitgwang group and urge the group to abandon their camp and support peace than opted for military confrontation.
4. We are calling upon the Kitgwang group to maintain the unilateral ceasefire agreed on 11th August 2021.
   With these calls, we the members of the Former Bor District in SPLM-IO party add our voice and call upon the Kitgwang group to stop confusing and mobilizing young youth, especially on tribal lines.

We also urge the group to lest unhealthy propaganda on social media platforms which creates unnecessary panic amongst the civil population, the Kitgwang Declaration not only stabbed the SPLM-IO at the back while implementing the peace, but also exacerbated the fragile security situation in the country.
We call upon the TROIKA countries, guarantors and all signatories to R-ARCSS to start exposing the double standards and peace spoilers within the R. TGONU, whose job is to be busy luring the military commanders from SPLA-IO into meaningless actions like this Kitgwang Declaration.

We also appreciate the cooperation from the region and the international community with the R. TGONU under the leadership of His Excellency President Salva Kiir Mayardit, and SPLM-IO under the able leadership of His Excellency Dr. Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon, PHD, to find the lasting solution to this internal problem.

We also appeal to comrades who have defected to Kitgwang group to reconsider their decisions and voluntarily comeback to the implementation of the peace agreement (R. ARCISS), and especially our own brother Cde Mabior Garang de Mabior and Deputy Chairman of SPLM-IO, Hon. Henry Dilah Odwar ,to help in the few pending clauses to be implemented.

Kitgwang Declaration was just an extraneous agenda outsourced by the adversaries of peace, in South Sudan, received with emotional and egotistic spirit by the leaders of Kitgwang faction.

Jonglei area (The former Bor District) in SPLM/A-IO both politicians, intellectuals, Military leaders , and in other political divides stands against these kind of actions that go contrary to the spirit of peace and harmony in the Republic of South Sudan.

Struggle continues comrades and fellow countrymen/women in the Republic of South Sudan.

VIVA THE FIRST VICE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH SUDAN , THE CHAIRMAN AND C-IN-C OF THE SPLM/A-IO H:E DR. RIEK MACHAR TENY-DHURGON, PHD.
VIVA SPLM/A-IO
VIVA JONGLEI AREA IN JUBA (FORMER BOR DISTRICT).

VIVA SOUTH SUDAN