Brigadier General Gabriel Gatwech Puoch says he defected from the South Sudanese national army (SPLA) after being passed over in a recent round of promotions and because of racist TV programmes aired by the state-controlled media.

In a press statement yesterday, Gatwech announced his defection and joining the rebellion led by the SPLM/A-IO. Among the main reasons he listed the following: “I lost my seniority among the Brigadiers in SPLA” and “I am always sick with Brig. Gen. Malaak Ayuen for SPLA special programme at SSTV against the Nuer.”

He explained, “I was shocked with disgraced when I saw the list of (238) Brigadiers who remained in SPLA GHQS... it was a nightmare to me when I saw the list, how could it happen I was shocked...”

Gatwech alleged that not only him but others in the 5th Division were passed over for promotions.

“The 5th Division was left out during promotion deliberately. …If officers are promoted because for the job well done, we have good two officers who fought in Bentiu tirelessly for good one year they should be rewarded for promotion. They are Brig. Gen. Gordon Banak Thoan was also wounded and Col. Chabak Machiek, unless they were left out during promotion because they were Nuer or any political reason,” he wrote.

The brigadier also explained that he was incensed by repeated broadcasts on SSTV featuring the army public relations official Brig. Gen. Malaak Ayuen, whom he accused of racism against his Nuer tribe.

“Who is all he times challenging the Nuer in general[?] By the way this is a very serious issue. If the regime is doing it deliberately then that is madness. If Brig. Gen. Malak Ayuen can really behave like a mad dog abusing the entire Nuer, whether they are with the regime or with the rebel, he doesn't care.”

“... Brig. Gen. Malaak Ayuen has been given green light by ruthless regime to abuse the entire Nuer; I shall not tolerate such a regime who wants to dismantle the whole country through tribal affiliations by using authoritarian system to keep them in power,” stated Gatwech.

Separately, the SPLM/A-IO rebel group confirmed in its own statement that Brig. Gatwech joined their ranks, praising him as an experienced officer and patriot. He was named among several other recent defectors including Agel Riing Machar, Maj. (Rtd) Simon Awas Pidomoi, Capt. Benjamin John Baptista and Capt. Michael Thiik Ke’nyan as others

Brig. Gatwech served previously as chief administrator for Division 5 and as a senior intelligence officer. He is the younger brother of Upper Nile Governor Simon Kun Puoch.  

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