Machar loses Henry Odwar, seven others to Simon Gatwech

JUBA – Former Minister of Mining Henry Dilah Odwar who served on the SPLM-IO card has dumped the party’s Chairman Dr. Riek Machar Teny and joined the Kit Gwang faction under Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual, Machar’s former army chief-turned arch-rival.

Mr. Odwar, the SPLM-IO deputy chairman, tabled his resignation letter as the Minister of Mining in the Revitalized Government of National Unity on 11^th Aug 2021 and did not provide reasons for his resignation.

However, a document dated August 08, 2021, reveals that the former minister, together with seven other members, including from the SPLM-IO National Liberation Council and Political Bureau, pledged allegiance to the Gatwech-led group.

“We, the undersigned members of the SPLM-(IO) in our various capacities in the PB, NLC, Committees, Country Representatives, and SPLM-(IO) passionate cadres endorse the Kit-Gwang Declaration and give our blessings to the Interim leadership of Lt. Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual and his team to steer the Movement and chart a more democratic and people-centered path,” the letter reads in part.

“Notwithstanding all the above, we passionately appeal to all South Sudanese and, not least, the Opposition Groups to stand united for demanding for just and lasting peace that will bring prosperity for all,” the statement continues.

The document was jointly signed by eight senior members of the SPLM-IO who deserted Machar to join Gatwech.

Apart from Odwar, some officials who defected from Machar to the rival faction include Goi Jooyul Yoi, a member of the Political Bureau and Chairperson of the Committee for Education, Science, and Technology.

The pair were joined by Ukuni Michael Paulino, the party’s representative to the United Nations, Jordan Manpiny Long, a member of Foreign Relations and Former Representative to Ethiopia, and Dr. John Kuek, Executive Director for Relief Organization of South Sudan.

The other three signatories to the document were Mr. Augustino Laku, Mr. Tut Puok Nyang, all members of the National Liberation Council, and Mr. Simon Aban Deng, an award-winning human and civil rights activist.

The mass defection came a day after President Salva Kiir called on the SPLM-IO factions to cease hostilities and find amicable solutions to address grievances to give room to the smooth implementation of the peace agreement.

The SPLM-IO internal political crisis intensified and went public after Gatwech, a former Chief of General Staff announced the ouster of Machar as the party’s chairman and South Sudan’s First Vice President on 3^rd August 2021 and declared himself the Interim Chairman.