Event Summary:
- Top south Sudan rebel general on Tuesday August 11, 2015 said that a faction of the top commanders had split from the chief Riek Machar
- The split has been caused by the ongoing peace talks in Ethiopia
- Gathoth Gatkuoth and Peter Gadet who were among rebel top commander were sacked last month are among those threatening to fight the peace deal between Riek Machar and President Salva Kiir.
Analysis:
A top South Sudan rebel general on Tuesday August 11, 2015 said that a faction of the top commanders had split from the chief Riek Machar and were determined to reject the peace talks and their outcomes.
This decision by the top general and his allies is a major threat to the already bas civil war that the country is experiencing. The civil war that has over 20 armed groups fighting has left tens of thousands dead and millions displaced both internally and outside the country in the 19 months of war.
Gathoth Gatkuoth, former logistics chief and Peter Gadet who were among rebel top commander were sacked last month said that they were now not only at war with the government in Juba but also with rebel leader Riek Machar.
Gatkuoth said that both leaders were symbols of hate, failed leadership and division and were both equally responsible for the crisis the world’s youngest nation plunged into.
The peace talks are ongoing in Ethiopia ahead of August 17th deadline to strike a deal to end the 19-month civil war that has been divided on ethnic lines. The war has taken a very violent form characterized by ethnic mass murders, rape, castration and brutal throat slitting of children.
The breakaway rebel commanders accused Riek Machar of put his interest of wanting a position for himself before the interest of the South Sudanese people. They further warned that any peace deal signed will not be considered legitimate.
Forecast:
The two rebel leaders Gathoth Gatkuoth who was former logistics chief and Peter Gadet who is in the UN blacklist as notorious militia chief have been long serving top-ranking commanders of the rebel fighters and it is very difficult to establish how many of the armed groups will pledge allegiance to them
This split in the rebel is very pivotal to the direction the South Sudan Crisis takes. The spilt will weaken Riek Machar position and at the same time fresh uprising will emerge that would worsen the already bad situation in the country.
The new rebel faction threatens the international deadline by a peace deal that could have ended the close two-year crisis that has characterized the newest nation in the world.
