Commander in Chief, also South Sudan’s main rival opposition stronghold of SPLM/A-IO Dr. Riak Machar has been ousted and replaced with Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual, the former SPLA-IO Chief of General Staff.
This announcement comes as a shockwave to many as renowned military leaders of SPLA-IO made an astonishing U-turn in their leadership of SPLA-IO in a next-level move.
This declaration comes just two days after General Gatwech said in a statement that a decision was being prepared by the group.
In an interview with journalists, a senior leader in SPLA-IO General Thomas Mabor Dhol, in the rank of commandant said the declaration was long overdue and has been signed by all fraternities within SPLM-IO with a representation from all leaders with exception of those in Juba.
The ambitious incoming leaders of SPLA-IO made a tremendous reshuffle within their leadership henceforth recognizing Chol Deng as the movement’s new spokesperson. Deng further hinted that the military leaders met in the Kit Gwang area of Upper Nile State to make the declaration.
“General Simon Gatwech Dual, Chief of Staff of the army, General Thomas Mabor Dhul, commander of Division 3 and General Johnson Olony, the commander of Division 1 attended the meeting,” Deng said.