November 23rd 2019 (Nyamilepedia) – South Sudan’s newly appointed governor of Latjor state General Gathoth Gatkuoth Hothnyang has declared his decision to join the ruling SPLM party under President Salva Kiir Mayardit.
Gatkuoth was appointed to replace Elijah Liech Bany as governor of Latjor state on Wednesday which reportedly angered FVP Taban Deng Gai who has been in odds with him since last year.
“SPLM-IO In Government under the leadership of Gen. Gathoth Gatkuoth Hothnyang formally rejoined the SPLM Party under the Leadership of President Salva Kiir Mayardit,” the presidency said in a statement on Saturday.
“The Interim governing Council of SPLM-IO in Government under the leadership of Gen. Gathoth Gatkuoth made the declaration after their meeting with President Salva Kiir at the State House on Saturday,” the statement added.
Speaking following a meeting with Kiir, Gathoth said: “President Salva Kiir welcomed them back to the SPLM Party and their files will be directed to the SPLM secretariat for administrative work.”
“We are now fully members of SPLM under the Leadership of President Salva Kiir Mayardit,” he added.
For his part, Otim David Okot, the former Interim Secretary General of the SPLM-IO in Government said their group under General Gathoth Gatkuoth did not agree with the procedures that were taken by General Taban Deng Gai to dissolve and re-join the SPLM party, that is why they did not rejoin the SPLM Party by then.
