October 6th 2018 (Nyamilepedia) – South Sudan’s First Vice President designate and the SPLM-IO leader Dr. Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon have removed the name of the First Vice President Taban Deng Gai from the SPLM-IO National Liberation Council alongside other 19 members according to a senior SPLM-IO official.
Angelina Teny, Machar’s wife and the SPLM-IO Chairperson of National Committee for Security and Defense told the semi-state Sudanese Media Centre (SMC) that the SPLM-IO leadership met in Khartoum and confirmed 23 new members of the National Liberation Council removing 19 people including the First Vice President Taban Deng Gai.
Teny added as well that South Sudan’s Petroleum Minister Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth was also among the 19 people dismissed by the highest organ of the group over their decision to join the government of President Salva Kiir Mayardiit.
The senior member of the opposition group further revealed that they have formed committees for the implementation of the revitalized agreement signed in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa but could not reveal what committees have been formed.
Teny further said Kiir had invited Dr. Machar to attend to Juba to witness the celebrations being organized by the government over the signing of the peace agreement signed last month in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.
She said the high-level visit by the top opposition figure will be done specific arrangements such as the release of the political detainees, lifting of the state of emergency to enforce confidence building between the two leaders.
For his part, the SPLM-IO Deputy Chairman of National Committee for Information and Public Relations Manawa Peter Gatkuoth said the membership of the 19 people were dropped due to their defection to the side of the government reiterating the commitment of the group to the many agreements signed between the South Sudanese parties including the security arrangement signed in June 2018 by President Salva Kiir and Opposition Leader Dr. Riek Machar..
