Juba, South Sudan
August 17, 2021— The National Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Hon. Manawa Peter Gatkuoth, condemns the defection of the SPLA-IO Chief of General Staff, 1st. Lt. Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual and many other senior officers, accusing of trying to obstruct the full implementation of the revitalized peace agreement,
This comes after SPLM/A-IO former chief of staff 1st. Lt. Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual announced his Kitgwang Declaration and accused the First Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar Teny of nepotism and being too vulnerable to check the status quo.
In a statement seen by Nyamilepedia, Manawa Peter Gatkuoth, who is the SPLM-IO Acting Chairperson of the National Committee for Information and Public Relations, said on Monday that he regrets that some “unnamed elements” have continued seeking in vain to sabotage the peace implementation process and mobilizing their members to disagree to the point of defections.
The senior opposition official called on the Magenis-based faction to form their own political organization and join the national efforts to achieve a lasting peace in the country.
“This would be a constructive approach for peace and stability in South Sudan instead of seeking to weaken the main opposition movement,” he said.
He further stressed that five other breakaway groups before Gen. Dual tried it hard to undermine the SPLM-IO but they failed notwithstanding the huge support they received from whom he described as “anti-peace circles”.
“Yes, they defected but the SPLM-IO remains and will continue to its vision for democracy, transparency and development,” Manawa said.
It is the first time for the SPLM-IO Acting spokesman to speak up on the situation since the declaration of Kitgwang.
Manawa Peter Gatkuoth who doubles also as South Sudan’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation hailed from the same place with leader of splitter group Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual leaving doubts if he is being pushed against his will to condemn the defection.
Gatkuoth also revealed the existence of a disagreement between the parties over the number of troops provided by each signatory group for the unified national army.
“It was agreed that the new national army is to be formed of an equal number of troops from the two sides. The SPLM In Government (SPLM-IG) provides a half and the other signatories a half,” the SPLM-IO spokesman quoted by Sudan tribune to have said.
