By William Madouk Garang
The deputy military spokesman for the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) allied to Gen Simon Gatwech has resigned from the Kitgwang breakaway outfit.
In his resignation letter dated January 1, 2022, Lt-Col Jidiet Yak Dak resigned from his position as the deputy military spokesperson just five months after his appointment by Gatwech.
“I want to officially tender my resignation immediately from the position of SPLA-IO deputy spokesperson,” Dak said in his resignation letter posted on his Facebook timeline.
“It was a great pleasure to serve in the party as deputy military spokesperson and I want to thank your leadership and all my comrades for giving me such a great honour,” he added.
However, the former military spokesman did not specify the reasons why he abandoned the movement.
In a separate resignation letter, a member of Kitgwang, Lt-Col Wichgoal Phar Chop tendered his resignation citing his personal concern.
“I would like to appeal to you my dear comrade chairman and C-I-C to the structure as a whole, to allow me in peace to deactivate my activities in the SPLM/A-IO KD,” Chop said.
“It’s not because something went wrong but I decided to tuck on my own affairs,” he added.
He further said that he spent nine years of struggle for public and betterment of South Sudan through what he termed as ‘cheerful’ vision of the SPLM-IO Kitgwang.
In response, the military spokesperson of Gatwech, Brig-Gen Alfred Gach Thot confirmed to have seen the letter by his deputy, adding that he did not ‘consult’ nor used proper process of tendering resignation.
“They did not hand their resignation letters in person instead posted on their Facebook timeline,” Thot said.
“The SPLM/A-IO KD wishes them a good luck to stay as good citizens or join any party of their choice,” he added.
Brig-Gen Thot stated that Kitgwang considers it as a ‘minor’ issue and the movement will not be shaken.
“The SPLM/A-IO KD considers their decisions as minor issue and the movement is still moving ahead with hundreds of thousands of its supporters across the country,” he noted.
Gatwech mouthpiece, Mr. Thot said they are not aware of what prompted them to resign but hinted that it could not be far from ‘personal interest’.
On August 20, 2022, Gatwech named Jidiet Yak as the group deputy spokesperson and promoted the military spokesman of Kitgwang Alfred Gach Thot from the rank of colonel to Brigadier-General.
On February 2, 2022, the press secretary of the leader of the SPLM/A-IO faction of Kitgwang under Gatwech also resigned.
James Kalany Mamuon claimed that his decision to join the group was to guide them toward peace and that now after the group had signed the peace agreement it was time for him to contribute to the nation-building.
“This is to inform my friends, colleagues and the general public that I have resigned as the press secretary of Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual, the leader of SPLM-IO Kitgwang,” he said.
“After the generals deposed the leadership of SPLM-IO, I decided to support the Principle of the Kitgwang declaration” …Now that the peace is signed, I have decided to contribute towards our nation-building through a different platform since I am not a soldier but a civilian,” Kalany added.