A South Sudanese rebel group that signed a peace agreement with the government in February said the deal is close to expiring without meaningful progress, raising the possibility it could withdraw from the pact.
The SPLM/A-IO Kit-Gwang faction, led by General Simon Gatwech Dual, inked the accord with the Juba government on Feb. 2 in Port Sudan. The agreement, which set a 12-month implementation timeline, was brokered by Sudanese military authorities.
The South Sudanese government was represented by Gen. Akec Tong Aleu, the former director of the National Security Service’s Internal Security Bureau. The Sudanese side was led by Gen. Ahmed Ibrahim Mufadal, then head of the General Intelligence Service.
Following the signing, an advance team from the Kit-Gwang faction travelled to Juba, led by Gatluak Puok Kuenywar, to begin discussions on implementing the agreement, including the integration of their forces into the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) and other organised forces.
The deal also stipulates that Gen. Gatwech would be appointed Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the SSPDF before his return to Juba.
The agreement further states that a contingent of SPLA-IO Kit-Gwang forces will be deployed to Juba within three months of the signing of the deal, ahead of Gen. Simon Gatwech’s return.
But nine months later, the group’s spokesperson, Musa Abraham, told Radio Tamazuj on Wednesday that “not a single provision” has been implemented.
“The agreement was signed with the former director general of the National Security Service (NSS), but we are in contact with the current NSS leadership. They say they are committed to the agreement, but there are challenges in the implementation,” Abraham said.
He attributed the stall to the government facing “a lot of difficulties since the violence in Nasir and internal issues in Juba,” as well as the removal of General Akec Tong Aleu, the government’s signatory and former director of the National Security Service’s Internal Security Bureau.
Abraham warned the deal is “three months away from expiring,” noting the agreement allows the parties to either extend the timeline or for the SPLM/A-IO Kit-Gwang faction to withdraw.
“We have not reached that stage yet. We are still talking with the government,” he said, adding that the five-member advance team remains in Juba and continues to engage officials.
He said the group has not seen a clear government roadmap for implementation. “Many promises have been made, but tangible steps are yet to be taken,” Abraham said.
“If the agreement is fully implemented, the Kit-Gwang forces will be integrated into the national forces. South Sudan needs peace, not conflict.”
NSS spokesperson David Kumuri could not immediately be reached for comment on why the peace deal signed with Gen Simon Gatwech has stalled, despite the ongoing integration of other former rebel groups.
Who is Gen Simon Gatwech Dual?
Gen Simon Gatwech Dual served as Chief of Staff of the SPLA-IO from 2014. After the signing of the 2018 peace agreement, he refused to travel to Juba, citing the lack of progress on security arrangements.
In 2021, President Salva Kiir appointed him as a presidential peace advisor, but Gatwech rejected the offer, saying he had not been consulted and accusing the government of attempting to lure him to Juba.
In August 2021, Gatwech issued what became known as the Kit-Gwang Declaration after a meeting of SPLA-IO commanders in Magenis, Upper Nile State, announcing he had removed Dr Riek Machar as leader of the SPLM/A-IO. He named Gen Johnson Olony as his deputy.
The SPLM/A-IO Kit-Gwang faction later signed a peace deal with the government in Khartoum in January 2022. Agwelek forces aligned with Olony signed a separate agreement. However, relations between Gatwech and Olony soon deteriorated, leading to several armed clashes. Olony later declared he supported peace and returned to Juba.
In February 2025, Gen Gatwech signed a new agreement with the government that includes provisions for integrating his forces into the national army and appointing him as Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the SSPDF.