June 23, 2021 — Reacting to the recent appointment of the SPLM/A-IO Chief of General Staff, 1st. Lt. Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual as a Presidential Advisor for Peace through a Republican Decree by President Salva Kiir, a senior official in the office of the COGS thinks Gen. Gatwech Dual may never turn up until further notice.
In an exclusive interview with Nyamilepedia editorial team this morning, Brig. Gen. Samuel Mut Gai Dhap, who is the Office Director , said the Chief of Staff has travelled to a remote area in Northern Upper Nile and due to an ongoing rain, he could barely speak to him.
Asked of what he thinks could happen, Brig. Gen. Mut reiterated that the appointment was not done in line with the revitalized peace agreement and also as per the protocols of the SPLM/A-IO.
“There is a ministry for peace and by the virtue of the peace agreement, that minister for peace becomes the presidential advisor for peace. That ministry has been made redundant” Brig. Gen. Samuel said
“In addition, there is the NPTC chaired by Hon. Tutkew, who is also an advisor in a different capacity; there are four Vices President plus the Joint Defense Board and other mechanisms enshrined in the peace agreement; where does it say in the revitalized peace agreement that the Chief of Staffs will be appointed as Presidential Advisors?” He said.
Gen. Mut believes that the SPLM/A-IO protocols were skewed, leaving the SPLA-IO wondering if their Chief of Staff has been relieved and replaced or not.
“In line with the SPLM/A-IO protocols, any officials that holds a current position has to be relieved first before being appointed, we haven’t received any letter that relieved the Chief of Staff before appointing him into political positions. Obviously he cannot serve the two positions, one in military and another in politics” he said.
According to Brig. Gen Samuel other prominent provisions of the peace agreement such as Security Arrangement and relocation of the IDPs should be the priority; however, he leaves the rest to the Chief of General Staff to speak for himself once his network connection improves.
“In addition the IDPs are still in the POCs and majority of the South Sudanese are not yet satisfied that the peace agreement is holding” Brig. Gen. Samuel Mut added.
The IO Chief of Staff was appointed in absentia and according to reliable sources, he was not consulted.
At the time of this report, the Chief of General Staff was at the front-line in Magenis which was experiencing poor network due to an ongoing rain in Northern Upper Nile.
