May 18, 2021 — The military wing of the main armed opposition, SPLM/A-IO has denied allegations that the Chief of General Staff, Lt. Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual, is defecting as alleged on social media.
In a statement extended to Nyamilepedia, the military spokesman, Brig. Gen. William Gatjiath Deng, said the speculations were baseless.
“In response to the rumors floating on social media and falsely claiming the unfounded history gestured the defection of the SPLA (IO) Chief of General Staff, Simon Gatwech Dual, with some senior officers in the highest rank and File, is much more far from the truth.” Brig. Gen. William Gatjiath Deng said.
He assured the SPLM/A-IO supporters that the military chief has not defected and neither does he wish to do so.
” I would like to assure the public and the SPLM /A_IO in particular that such news are beyond lies”, He added.
According to Brig. Gatjiath, the rumors were sparked by some activities linked to Maj. General Dhiling Keah, the SPLA-IO Director of Military Intelligence.Â
“This provocation has been engineered by the SPLA(IO) director of Military Intelligence Maj.General Dhiling Keak Chuol, who came from Juba last week and stationed in Khartoum with long list that bears the names of SPLA (IO) senior officers and claiming their defection purposely to create confusion within leadership” Gen. Simon Gatwech said as quoted by William Gatjiath in his statement.
“Moreover, General Simon Gatwech Dual, is now still commanding the SPLA (IO) forces as a Chief of Staff, and also the same as other Generals who had suspected to have engineered the plan, are also free and vigilance at the HQs.” He added.
The SPLA-IO warns those who are fueling such rumors to abstain from such activitiesÂ
“The leadership would remind all perpetrators, specifically those who are always telling liars about the others and working hard to push others out of the movement and you need to know that, this movement has lost thousands of lives and it’s controlled by strong pillars those who are ready to protect the national interest rather than opportunism.” He said.
According to Gatjiath, General Simon Gatwech Dual briefed SPLA-IO forces in Magenis and said that the provocation is being engineered by perpetrators within the movement purposely to create confusion within the leadership.
