An advance team of the SPLM/A-IO Kit-Gwang faction led by General Simon Gatwech has complained that the implementation of the peace agreement had not yet made any progress.
On 16 February 2022, a delegation of 31 military officers of the SPLM/A-IO Kit-Gwang faction arrived in Juba to follow up on the implementation of the Khartoum Peace Agreement that was signed in early January 2022.
The peace agreement, between President Salva Kiir’s group and the SPLM/A-IO Kit-Gwang faction led by General Simon Gatwech, provided for the integration of Kit-Gwang forces into the national army, the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF).
General Simon Gatwech, head of the group, and General Johnson Olony, commander of the Agwelek forces and deputy commander of the SPLM/A-IO Kit-Gwang faction, signed two separate agreements with Kiir’s faction.
The agreement also guarantees the implementation of the security arrangements, a permanent ceasefire, grants the Kit-Gwang faction amnesty, and reintegration of the breakaway SPLA-IO forces into the SSPDF within three months among others.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj this morning, Maj. Gen. Sebit Kong Kun, a leading member of the SPLM/A-IO Kit-Gwang faction complained that there was no any progress in the implementation of the peace agreement signed with President Salva Kiir.
“The peace agreement had expired on 16 April 2022… It is unfortunate that after we arrived in Juba as the advance team, the other side which signed the agreement has disappeared,” Gen. Kun said. “We have spent five months now in Juba and nobody met us from the government side.”
He added,” The government side was represented by Presidential Adviser on National Security Affairs Tut Gatluak, Gen. Akol Koor Kuch, Director-General of the Internal Security Bureau, and Gen. Marshal Stephen, the Chief of Military Intelligence.”
According to General Kun, the advance team could not meet President Salva Kiir Mayardit to discuss delays in the implementation of the peace agreement.
“On 16 April, General Simon Gatwech wrote a letter to the two governments of Sudan and South Sudan to send back the advance team to Khartoum. Until now, there is no response from both governments,” Kun said. “We came to Juba for confidence building, but until now there is no step forward.”
The advance team member complained about harsh living conditions in Juba, saying they live in Juba like prisoners of war. “Our situations and the situations of our families are very bad, we even don’t have money to buy soap or scratch cards,” he said.
General Kun reiterated their commitment to the peace process in the country, calling on the South Sudan government and the Sudanese mediators to transport them back to the SPLM/A-IO Kit-Gwang faction base in Upper Nile State.
“This will allow both sides to renegotiate the agreement. I am appealing to the international community to help push for the peace agreement. I would like to reaffirm the commitment of the SPLM/A-IO Kit-Gwang faction to peace,” he concluded.