Khartoum, Sudan
October 9, 2021—The leadership of Sudan People’s Liberation Army-In-Opposition under command of First Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar Teny has rubbished all speculations that top SPLA-IO commanders in Sector 7 and Division 6 have switched their allegiance to the SPLA-IO Kitgwang along with the defected commander Gen. Thomas Basilio.
This comes less than two days after Kitgwang military spokesman Brig.Gen. William Gatjiath Deng announced on his Facebook account that all Sector 7 commanders loyal to Dr. Machar have joined their faction in a good number.
Speaking to Nyamilepedia from Khartoum, SPLM-IO senior member, Cde. Tut Nen said, Gen. Basilio is in Khartoum for treatment since 2018 and he said the opposition commander has just defected to Kitgwang alone without any forces.
“3yrs now Gen. Thomas Basilio not in Division (7) he’s in Khartoum for the treatment, the reality in the western Bahr al ghazal lion Division (WBGL) they are under full control of commander Gen Hussein Galla acting sector (7) of SPLA-IO under able leader Dr Riek Machar Teny “, Cde. Tut Nen told Nyamilepedia from Khartoum, Sudan.
He said that all information circulated on media by Kitgwang spokesman has nothing to do with realities in Western Bahr El-Ghazal Lion Division.
” All the allegation of Kitgwang spokesperson William Gatjiath are no place in western Bahr al ghazal lion Division SPLA-IO”, he added.
According to senior opposition official, Gen. Thomas has had no communication with commanders at the front line for almost three years now.
The defection of the former Chief of Staff of the SPLA-IO and Sector One Commander, Lt. Gen. Johnson Olony, has caused severe distress to the SPLM/A-IO mainstream as die-hard supporters and Machar’s sympathizers are concerned that this could derail the peace agreement and weaken the main armed opposition.
Western Bhar el Ghazal has witnessed numerous defections starting with senior politicians that include the former SPLM/A-IO Secretary General Tingo Peter and Prof. Elias Nyamlel, among other heavyweight politicians from the region.
