By: Ruot George
The meeting this week of the representatives of the government delegation and Kitguang faction of the Sudan People Liberation Movement In Opposition (SPLM-IO) raises eyebrows because the initial objective of the faction was to oust Riak Machar, the leader of SPLM-IO but not Sudan People’s Liberation Movement In Government (SPLM-IG) led by His Excellency President Salva Kiir Mayardit according to Political Analyst Abraham Kuol Nyuon, a Juba University Professor of Political Science.
“This is a clear sign that the split in the SPLM-IO was engineered by the SPLM-IG to weaken them such that the faction can join them”, said the University Don.
However, Kuol also pointed out that the initiative is a sign that South Sudanese can address their differences without external influence
“This is a good spirit that shows that the people of South Sudan could be able to solve their grievances against each other.” said Kuol.
The Kitguang faction is a group of senior SPLA – IO military official who defected from the main opposition leader Dr. Riek Machar claiming that they ousted him from his position as the commander in chief of the opposition movement and from his position as the the country’s first vice president in August 2021.
Its being led by the SPLM-IO former chief of Staffs Gen. Gatwech Dual and Gen. Johnson Olony of the Agwelek forces.
Lat week, a government delegation led by Tut Gatluak, the Presidential Advisor on Security Affairs, Foreign Affairs Minister Hon. Mayik Ayii Deng and the investment minister Hon. Dhieu Mathok who are all members of the SPLM-IG with exception of Dhieu who is from Vice President His Excellency Taban Deng Gai’s faction of the SPLM.
