South Sudan’s Nairobi Peace Talks In Limbo After Chief Opposition Withdrawal
General Simon Gatwech Dual, the commander of South Sudan’s major armed opposition, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) Katgwang group, has expressed doubts about Nairobi’s suitability for the upcoming peace talks.
The peace talks are being mediated by President William Ruto, who was appointed by his counterpart Salva Kiir.
Ruto is expected to help the South Sudanese government and political groupings reach an agreement.
Gatwech denied an invitation to attend the peace negotiations, claiming that the city was unsafe, particularly for members of his political party.
He claimed that several members had been abducted in Nairobi, while others were dealing with other security concerns.
The General advised that the venue be relocated until the Kenyan government answers the security issues he and General Stephen Buay Rolnyang highlighted earlier.
“I regret to inform you that I may not be able to attend the ongoing Tumaini initiative because of some allied factors. SPLM/A-IO senior members were abducted by Juba agents from Nairobi in 2016 and other security risks in Nairobi remain high,” he stated.
In a letter, Gatwech also claimed that the invitation letter was sent too late, implying that the Kitgwang side was initially excluded from the peace discussions.
He also stated that because he lived in war-torn places, going to consult with other members was difficult. He also mentioned the difficulty in obtaining travel clearances.
“It was evident that Kitgwang was not considered in the corridors of power in Juba to participate, while it is known that SPLM/A-IO Kitgwang is the remaining largest opposition in South Sudan” Gatwech stated adding that the faction was committed to resolving the issues in South Sudan.
Despite the concerns highlighted and his decision not to attend the negotiations, Gatwech praised Kenya for its role in facilitating peace deals.
His concerns come days after Buay said there were intentions to kill him in Nairobi.
He threatened to leave the discussions, citing concerns for his own and his family’s safety.
Kenyan authorities, however, refuted the charges and are continuing their investigations.
South Sudan’s Nairobi Peace Talks In Limbo After Chief Opposition Withdrawal
