By William Madouk Garang
The Chairman of SPLM/A-IO Kit-Gwang splinter group, Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual has asked the government under President Salva Kiir Mayardit to commit and actualize the Khartoum peace agreement.
Kit-Gwang reiterated their commitment to honest implementation of peace, if peace partner reciprocate to implement Khartoum-bargain in letter and spirit.
Speaking to No.1 Citizen Daily Newspaper, the Spokesperson of Kit-Gwang leader, Alfred Gach Thot stated that despite loopholes the peace is still alive and urged the government to commit to its implementation.
“The peace is still alive but there is lack of political will to implement it and since the SPLA-IO is for peace we are ready for any peaceful settlement,” Thot said.
“We appeal to the government under leadership of Salva Kiir Mayardit to commit themselves for what they signed and our leadership is committed for the honest peace,” he added.
The mouthpiece of Gatwech also assured the entire public that they are for honest peace that must bring stability in the nation asserting that as the Kit-gwang, they are ready for face-to-face meeting if government wants.
“… We assure the people of South Sudan that we are for peace and it must be the honest peace that will bring the stability in the entire country,” Thot noted.
He also rubbished the report alleging that Simon Gatwech was removed from Chairmanship of Kit-gwang and replaced by Johnson Olony terming it as ‘fake’ and ‘baseless’.
“Lt. Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual is in control of the movement and those are make-up sources from the enemy of peace,” he clarified.
Last month, Gatwech threatened to throw away the Khartoum peace agreement and return to bush unless if the government honours the signed agreement.
Kit-gwang leader – Gatwech cited delays in the integration of his forces into South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) as one of the major concerns and sluggish execution of the peace.
The Khartoum peace deal signed mid-January 2022 between government, Kitgwang and Agwelek forces, provided that the 2018 permanent ceasefire agreement prevail and be maintained.
Yet, the two generals – Simon Gatwech [Ktigwang] and Johnson Olony [Agwelek] signed separate agreements with government delegation led by Tut Gatluak, the Presidential Advisor for Security Affairs.
The agreement called for establishment of coordination offices in Upper Nile and Malakal to enable for the integration of the forces into SSPDF, and SSPDF would provide necessary logistics.
However, on late June 2022, Gen. John Odhong who headed the delegation of SPLM-IG in Manyo County claimed that the integration of the opposition forces started.
According to him, the Kitgwang group handed over 100 forces to be deployed along the government forces in Kitgwang areas to oversee the border.
Nyawello Lowny, a member of an Agwelek delegation in Gabat where the forces were integrated confirmed the event to the local media.
“We have brought police forces as part of the implementation of the security arrangement, we brought around 100 officers to Gabat and they will proceed to Renk to the center,” Eye Radio quoted Lowny.
Nevertheless, the chairman of Kitgwang who was the former Chief of Staff of SPLM-IO, expressed his doubt about ongoing security arrangement saying that the whole process is politicized.