Boost for Machar as Chollo Community shuns Kit Gwang faction

JUBA – The SPLM-IO lawmakers in the Reconstituted Transitional National Legislative Assembly (RTNLA) from the Chollo Kingdom where John Olony hails have assured Dr. Riek Machar of their unwavering loyalty.

“We are standing on our ground under the visionary leadership of Dr. Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon without any doubt or confusion that undermines the peace implementation,” said Angelina Samuel Nyawela, the Chairperson of the Chollo Caucus in the transitional national legislature.

Earlier, the leaders of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO) fired three generals in the command of Upper Nile state shortly after the generals declared that First Vice President Riek Machar had been ousted as head of the SPLM-IO and commander-in-chief of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO).

Those fired were former chief of staff General Simon Gatwech, General Johnson Olony of Sector One Command who is from the Chollo Kingdom, and General Thomas Mabor Dhoal of Sector Three Command.

Gen Johnson Olony has been leading Chollo community-based militia known as Agwelek that was allied to then SPLA-IO.

Flunked by fellow Chollo lawmakers, Angelina confirmed the MPs’ loyalty to Dr. Machar amid tensions within the SPLM/A-IO caused by the breakaway group led by Gen. Simon Gatwech, the leader of the SPLM/A-IO Kit-Gwang faction.

Angelina condemned the Kit-Gwang declaration, stressing that peace is their priority as lawmakers representing the Chollo community.

“We condemn [the] Kit-Gwang declaration in the strongest term possible and remain loyal to Dr. Riek Machar to implement the peace agreement,” Angelina said in the statement.

“Peace is our priority as Chollo community. We need to give peace a chance in our Kingdom,” she added.