Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual, the leader of the SPLM/A-IO Kit-Gwang Faction, said President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar are political profiteers who should be removed if South Sudan is to have peace.

He says there will be no general elections in December 2024 as Kiir and Machar will scuttle it to remain in power.

Gen Dual was speaking in an interview with South Sudanese local radio station Radio Tamazuj.

Below are excerpts of the interview.

Q: We learned that you are in Khartoum, Sudan. Are you safe?

A: Yes, I am in Khartoum but in a safe place where there is no fighting. 

Q: When will you go to Juba?

A: I will not go to Juba. To do what? Why would I go to Juba when the peace agreement we signed with Salva Kiir’s people in January 2022 in Khartoum has failed? It is the government in Juba that frustrated our peace deal when they compromised the advance team I sent to Juba. So, why would I go to Juba?

Q: On 18 May you put out a press statement saying President Kiir dispatched his security advisor, Tut Gatluak, and NSS’ Internal Security Bureau (ISB) Director General Gen. Akol Koor to bribe you and Gen. Johnson Olony and that this is why the latter abandoned rebellion and went to Juba. Can you shed more light on this?

A: That is why Gen. Olony went to Juba. I do not want or desire money from Juba and I am fighting for the rights of all the people of South Sudan. I want the killings that take place day and night and the looting of people which are just watched by the government to cease. There has to be real peace and a responsible government. 

Q: How much money did they offer to bribe you?

A: They just brought money but I do not even understand that money of Juba.  

Q: You have in the past said Salva Kiir and Dr. Riek Machar are war profiteers. How are you going to handle them?

A: The two of them are war profiteers. They are deceiving people that there will be elections in December 2024. There will be no elections because they will start fighting again close to the elections. 

Q: What areas are under your command in South Sudan momentarily?

A: I have soldiers in many places within the country and it is well-known where. I have forces in Nassir, Mimir, Bentiu, and many other places. 

Q: Do you have an alliance with other armed groups?

A: I have no problems with Gen. Buay Rolnyang, Gen. Thomas Cirillo, and Gen. Paul Malong and we share the same vision and I am in regular contact with them. However, at the moment we are all operating independently militarily.   

Q: Do you plan to ally?

A: It is possible.

Q: What do you have to say about Gen. Olony’s going to Juba?

A: Olony, like Dr. Machar, has now been contained by Kiir in Juba. Kiir thinks he is a military intelligence officer and is clever, but he cannot manage me. 

Q: South Sudanese are suffering and the crisis in Sudan has made many flee back home and they are in a bad way. Why don’t you use dialogue to attain peace to alleviate the suffering of the people?

A: Kiir uses deception to confuse people. South Sudan has been destroyed by Kiir and Machar and that is why I am still in the bush. 

Q: Why did you fire your Chief of General Staff last week?

 A: He was compromised. He was given a lot of money to come and destroy my movement. He is in cahoots with Kiir and Machar and that is why I removed him from his position and dishonourably discharged him from the army.

Q: Who will you appoint as a replacement?

A: Military things are not preempted and you will hear when I appoint someone.

Q: What is your assessment of the implementation of the peace process?

A: Kiir is confusing the people. He took Dr. Machar to Juba in 2018, and up to now, the unified soldiers who were trained have not been armed and deployed. Others in the cantonment lack food and have not undergone training. Now, Kiir is saying there will be elections next year. I want to tell the people that there will be no elections. 

Q: Why would there be no elections?

A: Salva Kiir is very clever and dangerous just like Machar. There will be no elections and you will prove me right when the time comes. 

Q: What message do you have for the people of South Sudan?

A: My message to all the people of South Sudan is that Kiir and Machar have to be ejected otherwise, there will be no growth and development in the country. Unless the duo is removed, the country will continue bleeding.

Report by: Radio Tamazuj