S. Sudanese rebels describe as “white lie” defector’s claimed control of Pagak headquarters
August 19, 2015 (JUBA) – South Sudanese armed opposition faction of the ruling Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO) led by the former vice president, Riek Machar, denied allegations of internal fighting in the rebel’s headquarters of Pagak, near the Ethiopian border, and described it as a lie circulated by “propagandists” loyal to president Salva Kiir.
Brigadier General Gatwech Puoch Mar, who called himself with the rank of a Major General, on Wednesday told Sudan Tribune that former commissioner of Leer county, Dhiling Keka, was killed in the clashes in Pagak by bodyguards of Major General Peter Gatdet Yaka, who allegedly defected from Machar last month together with Major General Gathoth Gatkuoth.
Gatwech, a younger brother of the recently dismissed governor of Upper Nile state, Kun Puoch Mar, did not however provide the details of the alleged fighting, how it occurred on Tuesday and how the situation was like on Wednesday.
However, Machar’s press secretary, James Gatdet Dak, dismissed the allegation, saying it was a fabricated misleading propaganda with no truth in it.
“This is a white lie. Not even a fist fight has taken place in Pagak. This is a desperate propaganda with zero element of truth in it,” Dak told Sudan Tribune on Wednesday.
“Pagak is peaceful and calm. Not a single bullet was shot in the area. Enemies of peace are the ones spreading these lies. Journalists can visit Pagak and shame the pro-government agents,” he further said.
The rebel leader’s media official said the Tuesday’s allegedly killed former commissioner of Leer county, Dhiling, was in contact with them on Wednesday and was surprised by the allegation.
ANOTHER SPLIT IN JONGLEI STATE
Unconfirmed reports also further claimed that the governor of the rebel’s created Bieh state from Jonglei, Koang Gatkuoth, declared on Tuesday that Lou Nuer, which forms a bulk of the armed opposition fighters against the government, will not continue to vow allegiance to Machar any more.
Koang, according to multiple sources allegedly talked to Machar on Tuesday on phone and told the rebel leader that he had sold out Lou Nuer by signing a deal that gives the government control of Jonglei state.
But Dak equally dismissed the rumour as an attempt to mislead the public, particularly the supporters of the rebel movement, saying Jonglei state has the same power sharing arrangement with the other two states of Unity and Upper Nile in the oil-rich greater Upper Nile region where the opposition gets 40% and the government gets 46%.
“This is another attempt to misinform the public. SPLM/SPLA also gets 40% of power sharing ratio in Jonglei state just like the other two states of Unity and Upper Nile. The only difference is that the transitional governor of Jonglei state shall be nominated by the government unlike Unity and Upper Nile states where they shall be nominated by the SPLM/SPLA. However, SPLM/SPLA will take the position of deputy governor in Jonglei state,” he further explained.
He said the arrangement was also made in consultation with political and military officials from the area.
Dak also claimed that the rebel group controls much of Jonglei state and commands majority support from the populations in the state, adding that the would-be deputy governor from the opposition group will be more powerful in terms of followers than the government’s appointed governor in the area.
Sudan Tribune could not independently verify the allegations uttered by the pro-government officials and defectors.
The allegations came a day after South Sudanese rebel leader, Machar, signed a final peace agreement in Addis Ababa in the presence of African regional leaders of IGAD and representatives of the international community. His rival president Kiir refused to sign but however initialled the agreement as a witness.
There are reports that the leadership of the rebel movement under Machar was in contact with the defected generals in an attempt to reconcile and make them come back.
But a group led by former culture, youth and sports minister, Gabriel Changson Chang, who hails from a different party, is accused of seeking to maintain a separate party to fight against both president Kiir and opposition leader Machar.
Observers however downplayed the significance of Changson’s new rebel movement as lacking significant support. Changson, a banker who hails from Nasir county in Upper Nile state, has never been in an armed liberation struggle before and only joined South Sudan’s government after the 2005 comprehensive peace agreement.
(ST)