By William Madouk Garang
Kitgwang splinter group under Gen. Simon Gatwech on Saturday instituted its first-ever military wing and appointed Lt. Gen. Laraka Machar Turoal as the military chief of staff.
The newly appointed Chief of General Staff of Kitgwang army, Turoal had also served as a governor of the defunct Northern Liech State.
Reforms in the SPLM-IO breakaway faction comes as Gatwech and Johnson Olony, trades accusation over escalation of military operations in Upper Nile State, a fighting that forced civilians to flee their homes.
In reshuffling order, the interim Chairman Gatwech cited a power conferred upon him during a consultative meeting allocating position of the head of the army of SPLA-IO Kitgwang.
“Reference to the resolution of SPLM/A (IO) Kitgwang leadership consultative meeting and conference of July 18th 2022, and based on the structural document of the SPLM/A (IO),
“I, Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual, do hereby temporarily appoint, 1st Gen. Karan’s Machar Turoal as Chief of General Staff of SPLA-IO Kitgwang effective from September 17th 2022,” the order read in part seen by No.1 Citizen Daily Newspaper.
In a separate directive, Gen William Deng Malual was appointed as the deputy chief of staff for administration, and Gen. James Riak Ruai as deputy chief of staff for operations.
Gen. Machar Puoch Nhial was named as the inspector general of the military, while Gen. Joseph Wuor Puok was selected as deputy chief of staff for logistics.
Gen. David Manyang Kerlual was also appointed by interim chairman as Deputy Chief for Moral Orientation. Meanwhile, Gen. Mohamed William Taban was named as deputy chief of staff for training
Lastly, Gen. Peter Gatluak Thoan was appointed as deputy chief of staff for military justice.
The Interim chairman and commander-in-chief of SPLA-IO congratulated the temporary appointed top army officials and wished them success in their different assignments.