South Sudan government signed peace agreement with the Kitgwang faction of the Sudan People Liberation Army/Movement’s in opossition led by Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual and Gen. John Olony’s Agwelek forces.
The government delegation headed by Presidential Adviser on National Security Affairs, Hon. Tut Gatluak was in Sudan for nearly a week to pursue the armed kitgwang group into the negotiation table.
The parties agreed on a permanent ceasefire stated in the 2018 peace agreement to ensure sustainable peace and smooth implementation of security arrangements.
The deal reached in Khartoum on Sunday is hoping to bring back Gen. Simon Gatwech and his group take part in the Unity government.
The agreement mentioned assembling areas for Kitgwang forces in Manyo, Southern Malakal, and Eastern Jonglei. Parties said the implementation should not exceed three months, and the respective joint committee shall be formed immediately.
The deal also signed a separate agreement with the Agwelek force under Gen. Johnson Olony to remain independent from SPLM/A -IO mainstream. “The parties agreed that the Agwelek forces shall promptly be ingrate into SSPDF with due consideration of known military formation and application criteria.”
The agreement also stipulated that the Chollo area’s boundaries should be resolved as it stood on 1/1/1956 maps and provided in the R-ARCISS.
The government and Kitwang faction agreed to allocate political positions for SPLM-IO Kitwang and Agwelek political leaders.
According to the deal, the President of South Sudan shall issue the amnesty to the leadership and forces of the SPLM/A-IO Kit-Gwang as previously done on August 8th, 2018.
In August 2021, the SPLM- IO Kitgwang announced to have ousted Dr. Riek Machar – claiming he no longer represented the group’s interests. Gen. Simon Gatwech declared the party’s Chairman deputized by Gen. Johnson Olony.