Riak Machar, the leader of South Sudan’s anti-government SPLM/A-IO has
sacked two key generals, drastically changing the opposition’s military makeup.
SPLM/A-IO passed the order today (Tuesday).
Major General Peter Gatdet has been removed from his position as
Deputy Chief of General Staff for Operations and replaced with Major General
James Koang Chol, previously the commander for anti-government Special Forces
in the Upper Nile Region.
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SPLA-IO Major General Peter Gadet (seen above) has been sacked by opposition leader Riak Machar |
Machar subsequently appointed General Johnson Olony as commander of SPLA-IO Special
Forces.
Machar also sacked Major General Gathoth Gatkuoth as Deputy Chief of
General Staff for Logistics.
SPLM/A spokespeople have confirmed the move but given no reason
publicly.
Warrior Insight analysts say that while key field commander Major
General Peter Gatdet is among six generals, from both sides of the conflict,
sanctioned by the UN Security Council this is likely not the reason for his
dismissal.
Information ascertained indicates a serious split within SPLM/A-IO
between leadership support for Machar and an emerging camp supporting SPLM/A-IO
Chief Negotiator Taban Deng Gai.
Additional information indicates a potential third group, which
sources say is an attempted breakaway from both government &
anti-government forces.
However, sources in the Upper Nile theatre state that SPLM/A-IO was made aware of the looming defection, on its side with regard to this new group, and are now
preventing the groups’ attempt to link up with former pro-government splinter groups
with mutually sympathetic causes.
This emerging splinter group of the SPLM/A-IO is allegedly trapped in
Ethiopia’s Gambella region an unable to return to Pagak, which is on the border
of South Sudan and Ethiopia for fear of being arrested by Machar’s forces.