South Sudan rebel defectors downplay authority of political leader
January 6, 2016 (JUBA) – General Gathoth Gatkuoth, leading member of South Sudanese rebel defectors, has described as “no sense” his dismissal from the group by former youth, culture and sports minister, Gabriel Changson Chang.
General Gathoth, according to a 6 January statement extended to Sudan Tribune, claimed the visit of the 24 members to Juba was on the basis of the memorandum of understanding which the group and the government.
He said the document allowed the group to send an advance team to Juba the position paper with demands they would like to be met in the course of negotiation. The team, he said, went to Juba with the full knowledge of the chairman of the group, General Peter Gatdet.
“The Federal Democratic Party/South Sudan Arm[ed] Forces delegation was sent to Juba by the leadership with a full knowledge of General Peter Gadet to represent our position paper to president Salva Kiir,” said Gathoth in a statement.
The rebel commander claimed he was the deputy chairman of the faction calling itself Federal Democratic Party with its military wing South Sudan Armed Forces.
“I am the deputy chairman and commander in chief of South Sudan Armed Force/Federal Democratic Party. Our leader is only General Peter Gatdet Yak and I am the deputy, therefore Changson should [not] use propaganda to impose himself when the leadership did not give the mandate,” the statement reads in part.
He was reacting to a release bearing the signature of Gabriel Changson which he personally confirmed when reached by Sudan Tribune on Tuesday that he had issued a statement disowning the 24-member advance team to Juba, including the person who approved the visit before reaching an agreement with the government.
Changson called on the government not to ignore the advance team from his group.
(ST)