Gen. Akech Tong, Director General of the National Security Internal Bureau (left), and Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual, wearing a white cap (right), alongside a Sudanese official in a blue suit during the signing ceremony in Port Sudan on Tuesday, February 4, 2025 - Courtesy
The Sudanese embassy in Juba has confirmed that the government of South Sudan has reached a final peace agreement with Gitgwang leader, General Simon Gatwech Dual, following two rounds of negotiations in Port Sudan.
The agreement, which the government of Sudan mediated, is seen as a significant step towards peace in South Sudan, particularly in ending the ongoing armed conflict.
According to a statement released on the Sudanese embassy’s official Facebook page, the negotiations took place in two rounds: the first in January and the second in early February.
A delegation from the South Sudan government, led by Akech Tong Aleu, Director General of the Internal Security Bureau, represented South Sudan in the talks.
The Sudanese embassy expressed its firm belief in the importance of peace, stating, “Believing in the sanctity of peace as a comprehensive humanitarian principle that everyone, without exception, has the right to enjoy, and firmly believing in the importance of extending the peace process in the Republic of South Sudan, given that the security of the two countries is closely linked and in loyalty to a deep-rooted history and continuous brotherhood.”
The statement further emphasized Sudan’s continued support for the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement, highlighting Sudan’s role in mediating the agreement and acknowledging South Sudan’s commitment to peace.
“This agreement reflects the belief of the political leadership in South Sudan in spreading peace throughout the country and fulfilling President Salva Kiir’s promise not to return South Sudan to the furnace of war,” the statement added.
The Sudanese government, which played a major role in the 2018 peace deal, reaffirmed its support for South Sudan’s ongoing peace efforts.
The embassy emphasized the close security ties between the two nations, noting that this new understanding strengthens the path toward stability in South Sudan.
The peace agreement marks a pivotal moment in the relationship between South Sudan’s government and General Gatwech.
In June 2021, Gatwech was removed from his position and offered a role as a peace advisor to President Kiir, which he rejected, citing a lack of consultation and claiming that the offer was an attempt to lure him to Juba.
In August 2021, Gatwech, along with SPLA-IO commanders, declared in the Kit-Gwang Declaration that they had ousted Dr. Riek Machar as the leader of the SPLM/A-IO. Gatwech declared himself the new leader, appointing General Johnson Olony as his second-in-command.
The Kit-Gwang faction later signed a peace agreement with the government in January 2022, but the agreement soured months later as both parties accused each other of not fulfilling their obligations.
Tensions between Gatwech and Olony led to their fallout, with Gatwech dismissing Olony and the two forces clashing several times. Despite these setbacks, Olony has expressed a willingness to return to Juba and continue pursuing peace.
The latest peace agreement between the South Sudan government and Gatwech’s forces is seen as a crucial step in addressing long-standing issues of instability and conflict in the region.
Eye Radio will keep you posted with more details on this peace deal.
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