Warring SPLM-IO factions seek peaceful solutions to internal rift

JUBA – The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) factions are cautiously seeking to resolve their dispute amicably according to official communications from both Dr. Riek Machar and Gen. Simon Gatwech.

In a statement extended to City Review, Puok Both Baluang, SPLM-IO Director of Information and Public Relations said Dr. Riek Machar received two phone calls from Lt. Gen. Johnson Olony from 11:54 AM and 05:50 PM respectively on Wednesday.

Mr. Both claimed that Olony, a senior member of the Kit-Gwang faction under the leadership of Mr. Gatwech, told Machar that the splinter group was willing to cease hostilities.

“Gen. Olony informed H.E Dr. Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon about their group acceptance of the ceasefire,” the statement reads partly.

“In an amicable atmosphere, H.E. the Chairman and Commander-in-Chief emphasized the need to resolve peacefully the incident that took place in Magenis in Upper Nile State,” the statement continues.

The information director also said Machar and Olony agreed to “immediately send the Commissioner of Panyikang County Hon. Mustafa Gai to the county headquarters to assume his duties and to assure the population that there is peace in the area”.

Mr. Both added that the pair also “agreed to maintain contact”.

However, in a separate statement, Brig. General William Gatjiath Deng, SPLA (IO) Army Spokesperson for Kit-Gwang faction said the statement by Mr. Both was twisted, claiming that it was Machar who called Olony to ask for peaceful alternatives to the intra-party crisis.

“The statement is twisted. In the real sense, it was Dr. Riek Machar himself who called Gen. Johnson Olony Thabo to deliver his apology on behalf of SPLM/A (IO) for launching an attack against the SPLA-IO Forces in Kit-Gwang (Magenis),” Mr. Gatjiath says.

“He [Machar] also informed Gen. Johnson Olony about the cessation of hostilities between the two forces.  Moreover, he requested him if the interim Chairman and commander-in-Chief, H.E. Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual, would accept to disengage the forces,” he claims.

“But Johnson Olony replied to him that we have no intention to wage war against our forces but we felt astonished for the sporadic attack at Magenis,” he added.

Pressure from both regional and international communities is currently piling on both Machar and Gatwech to find a peaceful solution to resolve their internal wrangles to save the peace agreement from total collapse.

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