By William Madouk Garang
The Kit-gwang splinter group under Lt. Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual has resounded “alarm bell” accusing his peace partner the SPLM-IG under President Salva Kiir of dishonouring the Khartoum peace agreement.
The Kit-gwang and Agwelek delegations signed peace agreement on Mid-January 2022 with government representatives led by Tut Gatluak Manime, which says the 2018 permanent ceasefire should be maintained.
The agreement also called for establishment of coordination offices in Malakal to easily enable the integration of the forces into SSPDF, and SSPDF would provide necessary logistics.
But the South Sudan government has not lived up to its promises to implement the agreement they had signed which Gen. Gatwech repeatedly blames Kiir’s group for not recommitting to peace.
In a communiqué released after a consultation meeting that lasted for three-days in Sudan’s Capital Khartoum, the political and military leaders of Kit-gwang SPLM-IG turned deaf ears to the peace implementation.
“We the political and military leaders of SPLM/A – IO Kit-gwang met in the capital of Sudan (Khartoum) from 16 -18 July, 2022 and unanimously agreed on the following,” read part of the statement seen by No1 Citizen Daily Newspaper.
“The SPLM-IG has renegaded on a call for justice, reconciliation and unhindered and holistic implementation of the Khartoum peace agreement signed between the SPLM/A-IO splinter group and the SPLM-IG on 16 January 2022,” added the press release.
The group also endorsed the establishment of high level committee comprising political and military leaders to review and amend four basic documents of the SPLM/A – IO party.
“Confirms the compatibility and mutual working relations between the army and political leaders to achieve our goals of freedom, equality and justice for all persons in South Sudan,” added the communiqué.
While committing themselves to Khartoum peace implementation they also extended their calls to former cadres and officers.
“Welcomes back all SPLM/A–IO cadres and officers deliberately taken to Juba by former chairman and commander in chief Dr. Riek Machar before the implementation of a proper security arrangement”.
Last week, Kit-gwang splinter group had asked the government under President Salva Kiir Mayardit to recommit themselves to the peace agreement they have signed in Khartoum in January this year.
Kit-Gwang echoed their commitment to honest implementation of peace, if the peace partner reciprocates to implement Khartoum-bargain in letter and spirit.