S. Sudan’s Jikany community disowns opposition General over defections
March 26, 2016 (ADDIS ABABA) – The Eastern Jikany community has disowned Gen. Gathoth Gatkuoth’s after the latter’s recent move to re-join South Sudan’s government.
“On behalf of the entire Nuer community, and specifically Jikany communities in South Sudan and in the diaspora, we have rejected the grave decision taken by Gen. Gatkuoth to join the regime that has massacred his own people,” partly reads the statement.
It urged all citizens of the community in South Sudan and outside the country to disassociate themselves from activities Gatkouth might be doing with the Juba regime.
The move to terminate Gatkuoth’s membership was made by community leaders after the Eastern Jikany community living inside the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) camp in the young nation’s capital held a meeting last week.
“The elders understand that General Gathoth led Eastern Jikany brave fighters to Malakal and liberated it from the enemies three times but all the victories are accorded to the rightful owners, the Youth of Eastern Jikany White Army, not Gen. Gathoth Gatkuoth,” said the community’s letter.
“If Gen. Gathoth’s self-interest forced him to switch side, he must go alone and we disowned his actions and keep our community united and focus. In simple terms, we cannot and will not support general Gathoth,” it added.
The statement said the defection of the opposition general to the regime in Juba has no significance in the community.
Eastern Jikany community is located in the Eastern part of the Upper Nile state bordering with Ethiopia. It composes of four counties; Nasir, Ulang, Maiwut and Longichuk County.
Gatkuoth re-joined President Salva Kiir led government last week – some 8 months after he was dismissed by the armed opposition (SPLM-IO) chairman, Riek Machar. He was then dismissed along with other Key rebel commander Major General Peter Gatdet.
It remains unclear in to why Gatkuoth decided to re-join the South Sudanese government.
Earlier this month, the Federal Democratic Party/South Sudan Armed Forces (FDP/SSAF) have accused Gen. Gathoth Gatkuoth and other relieved generals and officers of fraudulently using the name of the opposition movement, which broke away from the Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement-In-Opposition (SPLM/A-IO).
Gabriel Changson, Chairman – Political Committee of the FDP/SSAF that accused Gen. Gathoth Gatkuoth of being playing the lead role in illegally and fraudulently using the FDP/SSAF.
“The leadership of our organisation has noticed with great concern that a group of dismissed and defectors officers from the ranks of the FDP/SSAF movement are using the name of our organization purporting to members, in their press releases and presumably in communicating with third parties” Changson then told Sudan Tribune.
Gatkuoth was one of Changson’s top military general, but was dismissed from the FDP/SSAF movement on 4 January 2016 after he sent an advance team to Juba without authorisation from the leadership of the new faction.
(ST)