Changson Chang appointed chair of S. Sudan splinter group
April 17, 2016 (NAIROBI) – The leadership of the Federal Democratic Party-South Sudan Armed Forces (FDP-SSAF), has announed this week the appointment of South Sudan’s former culture minister, Gabriel Changsson Chang as the provisional chairman and commander in chief of the splinter movement.
A consultative meeting of its members, it said, would be convened before the end of this month and that participants of the conference must be broad based and drawn out from the three greater regions of the world’s youngest nation, including the diaspora.
“In February 2016, some of the generals (Gen. Gathoth Gatkuoth, Gen. James Malith Gatluak and Brig. Gabriel Gatwech Puoch) decided to join the Government of the Republic of South Sudan (GRSS) on an unnegotiated and unsigned peace agreement,” partly reads the release.
It added, “We respect their decision to jump off the ship and wish them well. They are now in Juba pursuing their dreams”.
The FDP leadership, in their release, also criticised Gen. Peter Gatdet Yak’s decision to form his own military movement called National Defence Alliance (NDA) and his unilateral decision to change the name of FDP/SSAF to NDA allegedly without consulting both the military and political leaders of the FDP/SSAF.
The group said since it split away from the armed opposition (SPLM-IO), it has taken them about eight months without naming its leadership.
“This is attributed to different vision, mission and objectives the generals entertain as evidence by their stated above positions,” is said.
According to the release, the appointment of the two leaders was done after a series of consultative meetings on finalisation of structures of the FDP/SSAF movement.
(ST)