Khartoum, Sudan
January 16, 2022 — The Leadership of the breakaway SPLM/A-IO faction led by the SPLA-IO former Chief of General Staff, Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual, has confirmed the detection of its top military spokesman to the government of President Salva Kiir Mayardit.
This comes less than 24 hours after news was circulated on social media purporting the defection of the senior opposition spokesperson of Kitgwang Faction to South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) along with other high ranking GeneralS yesterday.
In a statement extended to Nyamilepedia, Cde. James Kalany Mamuon, the Press Secretary in the office of Interim Chairperson of Kitgwang Faction confirms yesterday that, Gen. William Gatjiath Deng and one Anya-Anya veteran, Lt. Gen. Gattiek Diar Rial have abandoned their camp and rushed to South Sudanese capital, Juba without informing the Chairman, a move Cde. Mamuon described as “tantamount to shifting camp but said it didn’t come as surprise to them.
“.. The leadership of SPLM/SPLA-IO Kitgwang would like to inform its members and the public that it confirms the desertion of the above mentioned Generals, who happened to have left Khartoum to Juba today, Friday, January 14th 2022. Their desertion did not come as a surprise to any of us, as the two generals expressed a change in behavior and thoughts towards SPLM-IO Kitgwang since their arrival in Khartoum” Mamuon said in a statement obtained by Nyamilepedia.
Mamuon assured the public and supporters of Kitgwang Faction in particular not to be shaken by defection of two Generals saying the movement is bigger than two men but requested Gen. William Gatjiath Deng to hand over the documents belonging to opposition group.
“We would like to assure our members that the decision taken by the two Generals will not affect the interest and determination of our movement in achieving its course. Due to their desertion, we urge our former military spokesman to hand over the documents and the stamps since he is no longer our military mouthpiece” Mamuon added.
He further reassures their members and peace loving people of the Republic of South Sudan that they are fully committed to bringing peace in South Sudan.
Gen. William Gatjiath Deng was the initial military spokesman of the main SPLA-IO allied to FVP Dr. Riek Machar Teny, but following Kitgwang Declaration in which he was one of the architects, Gen. Deng became the military Spokesman of Kitgwang Faction under Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual.
It’s not clear so far why Gen. William Gatjiath deserted the camp of which he was one of its founders.
