Rebel Camp On Fire As Leadership Wrangles Intensify Thursday, 23 October 2014 Tensions in the camp of Riek Machar forces in Unity State have risen as struggle over the command of forces tasked to carry out operations against government positions take a center stage. Sources say that there are misunderstanding between Gen. Peter Gatdet and James Tut Gai, an in-law to Dr. Machar who recently got promoted to a rank of a General. Peter Gatdet was in charge of rebels forces in Unity State and been commanding rebels forces fighting against the government forces in Unity State. gatdet-yaka He, according to the source, wants new forces, which entered South Sudan through Panthou under him, but Gen. James Tut Gai insists he should be the one commanding while maintaining direct communication with overall command (Riek). Gen. James Tut Gai and his forces entered South Sudan via Panthou route. He is believed to be the right hand man of Dr. Riek Machar. James Tut Gai left Nairobi for Addis Ababa and then to Sudan where ready-trained forces were placed under his command and headed to South Sudan. The source revealed to us that Rebels’ Leader, Dr. Riek Machar, bears a little or no trust toward Gen. Peter Gatdet Yak thus wants to create a force that would balance the threat posed by him. Gen. James Tut wants to be taking orders from Riek directly and this is reported to be creating bad blood between the two rebels’ generals. Gatdet has reportedly expressed his disappointment to Riek arguing that the rebel leadership wants to replace him unceremoniously. Gatdet had changed allegiance several times the South Sudan-Sudan civil war. By the time of the comprehensive peace agreement, he had already crossed many times between SPLA and Sudan Government. The Army spokesperson, Col. Philip Aguer Panyang said they are aware about the mobilization against their position and are monitoring the event closely. He said they expected since last week that joint forces of Gen. Peter Gatdet and Gen. James Tut Gai would attack government position in Bentiu, but it seems the disagreement is more likely to turn the odds around toward rebels to pointing guns one to another. “We don’t know, which direction the attack is coming from whether from the North or South because there is group of rebels that entered South Sudan from Panthou and those already inside Unity State. Both of them are Mobilized for attack”, Col. Philip Aguer said. Adding, “We are monitoring their every move”, he said. “We are monitoring their move. We know their intention is to attack, but the SPLA is on maximum alert in the whole of the Unity State”, Philip Aguer told The Nation Mirror on phone yesterday. Col. Aguer further said that the SPLA is still committed to honoring the ceasefire agreement despite repeated violations of it by the rebels. “We are still committed to regional and international efforts to bring peace to South Sudan. As a people’s army SPLA is for the relief of the suffering of the people. We want our people who are suffering in the displaced camps to go back to their homes and perform their own duties and be free to move anywhere. We expect the rebels to be concerned, too”, Col. Philip Aguer said. Adding, “We support the government’s efforts to bringing peace to the country”
Posted on: Wed, 29 Oct 2014 04:14:13 +0000
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