Sudan Sponsors Reconciliation Between South Sudanese Factions
Port Sudan – Sudanhorizon
Mediation efforts led by the Sudanese government, through the General Intelligence Service and under the direct supervision of the Chairman of the Transitional Sovereignty Council, succeeded in reaching a reconciliation agreement between the government of President Salva Kiir and one of the most prominent political and military opposition factions in South Sudan.
The agreement, which was signed on last Sunday, and its consultations took place in the administrative capital of Port Sudan in the Red Sea State, brought together representatives of the People’s Movement in Opposition, the (Kit Gwang) faction led by the movement’s leader, General Simon Gatwech Dual, while the government of President Salva Kiir was represented by the Director of the Internal Security Service, Lieutenant General Akec Tong Aleu, and the Head of Military Intelligence, Lieutenant General Garang Stephen Marshall.
The agreement includes, among other provisions, the implementation of security arrangements between the two parties, the integration of the forces that defected from (the Sudan Liberation Movement in Opposition – Kit Gwang faction) into the official army of South Sudan, and ensuring the faction’s participation in power.
Lieutenant General Ahmed Ibrahim Mufaddal, who was in the middle of the platform of the signatories to the agreement, described it as “historic”, and said, “Today we were able to reach an agreement between the government of South Sudan and the People’s Movement in Opposition, the “Kot Guang” faction, after a second and final round of consultations supervised by the General Intelligence Service under the close sponsorship and follow-up of the Chairman of the Sovereignty Council, Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan.”
Mufaddal pointed out that Sudan, despite the existential war it is waging, has remained and will remain interested in the stability and security of its southern neighbour, “because the stability of South Sudan means the stability of Sudan.”
In January 2022, the parties in the state of South Sudan signed a peace agreement in Khartoum under the sponsorship of Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, putting an end to a devastating war that broke out in the Upper Nile and whose flames almost spread and swept through the south. Observers described the Khartoum agreement at the time as the “peace of the brave.”
The Director of General Intelligence, Lieutenant General Mufaddal, said that “Sudan has put its expertise and capabilities to help the brothers in South Sudan, as an extension of its brotherly roles and a sense of responsibility to end wars and disputes, and as a supporter and sponsor in order to reach lasting peace.
He praised the two parties for responding to the call for peace and signing the agreement, noting that signing the agreement will open the door to security stability in all border areas between the two countries, especially the (Lau Nuer) region, “because the “Kit Gawang” faction is one of the influential factions in the region, and its joining the peace bandwagon will be an incentive for others to abandon the option of war in South Sudan.”
The Director reiterated his confirmation that Sudan, led by Burhan, will continue to strongly support the government of President Salva Kiir Mayardit, and asked all parties to implement what was agreed upon because “it means more stability and progress for the state of South Sudan.
For his part, the leader of the People’s Movement in Opposition, the (Kit Gwang) faction, General Simon Gatwech Dual, confirmed after signing the peace agreement with the government of South Sudan, his determination to move forward and said: “We are not going backwards.. We are going forward,” and indicated that his movement is nationalistic and seeks peace in all parts of South Sudan.
Simon referred in condemnation to the crimes committed by the Rapid Support Militia in Sudan, and dragging some of the people of South Sudan into the fire of war, and said: “The Rapid Support caused us the worst thing.. I am with Salva Kiir. I am with Burhan.”
In the same context, the Director of the Internal Security Service in South Sudan, Lieutenant General Akec Tong Aliu, expressed his happiness at signing the peace agreement with General Simon Gatwech, and praised the Sudanese government and the General Intelligence Service that supervised the consultations leading up to the signing, and said, “We will abide by the agreement that we signed under the supervision of the Sudanese government and the supervision of the General Intelligence Service.