South Sudanese rebels say military reshuffle normal
July 22, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) – South Sudanese rebels on Wednesday said the Tuesday’s reshuffle of top military commanders was a normal administrative exercise, rubbishing as “wishful thinking” allegations of defections attributed to diplomats of president Salva Kiir’s government.
Former vice president and armed opposition leader of the Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO), Riek Machar, issued a number of orders relieving and appointing top military commanders.
In the orders on Tuesday, 21 July, Machar relieved Major General James Koang Chuol Ranley from his position as commander of Special Division (I) and reappointed him to more senior position as chief of general staff for operations, replacing Major General Peter Gatdet Yaka, who was also earlier relieved from the position in a separate order on the same day.
Machar also relieved Major General Gathoth Gatkuoth Hothnyang from his position as deputy chief of general staff for logistics. No replacement was named for the position of deputy chief of general staff for logistics as it will be “handled from the office of the commander-in-chief.”
Major General Johnson Olony, former commander of Aguelek forces who joined with the opposition faction early this month, has been appointed as commander of Special Division (I) in the oil-rich Upper Nile state, replacing Major General James Koang Chuol Ranley.
However, president Kiir’s diplomats including Gordon Buay and James Morgan alleged to Sudan Tribune on Tuesday that the relief of the rebel top commanders was expected because the commanders were allegedly dissatisfied with their leadership and were initiating separate talks with the government.
Other rebel sources in Addis Ababa also told Sudan Tribune that the commanders had been expressing frustration over what they said was their leader’s lack of seriousness to effectively fight the war to overthrow president Kiir. They complained of lack of logistics and Machar’s willingness to share power with president Kiir, whom they described as “genocidal” who should be removed at any cost and not share power with.
But Mabior said the allegations from the government’s officials were baseless and coming from anti-peace elements in the regime.
“This claims attributed to some diplomats of the Salva Kiir administration are nothing but the wishful thinking of people who want to derail the impending peace agreement,” Mabior said.
He added that the two relieved senior commanders, Major General Peter Gatdet and Major General Gathoth Gatkuoth will be assigned to other positions at an “appropriate” time.
Also, Machar’s press secretary, James Gatdet Dak, in a separate comment dismissed rumours that the two relieved senior commanders had been arrested, and appealed to the supporters of the opposition faction not to be misled by the rumours.
He also said the opposition group was committed to the IGAD-Plus peace process and expressed hope that a peace agreement would be signed soon by the warring parties.
(ST)