S. Sudan rebel defectors deny rift in talks with government
December 27, 2015 (JUBA) – The military commanders who defected from the armed opposition faction allied to Riek Machar several months back have denied division over objective of talks with the Juba government after beginning the dialogue process.
According to Gadet, reports alleging the existence of divisions over the objective of negotiation with the government was the work of their political rivals attempting to drive wedge between them in order to find an excuse for them not to be part of the peace process and continue to portray them as “anti-peace groups”.
He explained that their differences with Riek Machar, leader of the Sudan People’s Liberation in Opposition (SPLM-IO) originated from reunification of the SPLM based on the Arusha deal and for failing to push at the negotiation table the establishment of the federal democratic country in which their forces would be allowed under the term of any potential peace to self-command for a period of at least three years in order for them to be able to reorganize themselves and their forces.
“We, the defected Generals from SPLA -IO love peace and reconciliation but disagreed with Dr. Riek Machar because of Arusha agreement that brought the Re-unification of SPLM group. The reunification of the SPLM was not our objective or reasons why we fought with Salva Kiir and his group. We fought Salva Kiir because he brought irregular forces from his home area to kill innocent people who were not party to the differences within the SPLM. So our objectives is to get a peace agreement which addresses the root causes”, Gadet exclusively told Sudan Tribune Sunday from an unknown location.
Gabriel Changson Chang, South Sudan’s former youth and culture minister also denied there were differences and denied they have signed any agreement with the government.
“We did not sign any agreement with the government. What we have signed is the memorandum of understanding and undertaking to begin negotiations with the government”, said Chang from an undisclosed location outside South Sudan.
But while two defected rebel officials denied the existence of differences and signing of the peace deal with the government, observers and people with working knowledge of backdoor negotiations and those close to them, claimed existence of rift as Gadet has a different ambition from Chang and General Gatkuoth Gathoth, both of whom hail from Jikany clan of the Nuer section in Nasir area in what would now fall under Latjor state if presidential order creating more states is operationalized.
Gadet hails from the Nuer section in Mayom area of northern Lich, a newly created state.
Gatkouth, sources close to him say, has gubernatorial ambitions in the area while Chang, who see himself as the political leader of the group, has ambition for ministerial post at the national government and Gadet has an ambition to be a deputy commander in chief.
There is no publicly available agenda of negotiations, though presidential sources have alleged President Salva Kiir has mandated a selected team of security officials, comprising head of internal security bureau, Akol Koor Kuc and deputy director for external security bureau, Paul Nang Majok as part of the presidential team led by presidential advisor on security affairs Tut Gatluak to negotiate with the group.
Gatluak, however, told reporters on arrival from Kenya where his delegation met the group of rebel defectors that Thursday’s talks were sanctioned by President Salva Kiir.
“It is our wish and hope to close this chapter of war and move forward and open a new chapter of peace and reconciliation. We need to end this war as soon as possible so that our people return to their homes”, the presidential aide told the state-owned SSTV.
JUBA SIGNS MOU WITH REBEL DEFECTORS
A group calling itself the Federal Democratic Party (FDP – political wing) / South Sudan Armed Forces (SSAF) known to have been formed and led by South Sudan’s former minister, Gabriel Changson Chang, signed the MoU with government representatives in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi on Thursday.
Gatkuoth signed the agreement on behalf of the FDP/SSAF while Gatluak inked on behalf of South Sudan government.
The agreement, known as a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), was to pave the way for return to Juba of the former rebels on 30 December, in order to negotiate further with the government on their demands while already in Juba.
However, a military official from the group told Sudan Tribune that there was a split, with some senior politicians and military officers including Gabriel Changson Chang and General Peter Gatdet Yak, rejecting the agreement signed by General Gathoth Gatkuoth Hothnyang and refused to return to Juba.
“We want to advise our followers and public that those individual generals who signed a peace deal with GRSS will have no followers. They are joining GRSS because they are promised to get financial assistance and positions. It is an individual interest not for all people,” Dhoal Larjin, a spokesperson of the FDP/SSAF before the split said Sunday.
(ST)