Aug 6, 2021 — Latest reports from South Sudan’s northern Upper Nile confirmed that a fresh fighting just broke out this morning between forces loyal to the First Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar Teny, and his former Chief of General Staff, 1st. Lt. Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual.
According to Brig. Gen. William Gatjiath Deng, the spokesman of the SPLA(IO) Kitgwang faction, under the leadership of Gatwech Dual, the SPLA(IO) forces loyal to Dr. Riek Machar attacked their positions this morning.
Gen. Gatjiath said the fighting just broke out “right now” and their forces are responding to Machar’s forces who are attacking their position.
“The forces loyal to the former Chairman Dr Riek Machar, have attacked Magenis (kitgwang) HQs right now. The mightest Force all under command of the interim Chairman and Commander in Chief, Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual, has heavily confronted them.” Brig. Gen. William Gatjiath Deng said.
The two leaders, Machar and his former Chief of Staff, broke up recently after Gatwech refused to take up a political position in Juba question the legitimacy of the peace agreement and expressing doubts on why the security arrangements is not being implemented.
On the other hand, Machar responded in Juba by replacing Gen. Gatwech and appointing his successor, Lt. Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam, who is also in Juba.
The division has been heightened within the last 24 hours by declarations and counter declarations on both sides as the two leaders blame themselves.
This is a breaking news, more to follow shortly…..
