Kit-Gwang military advance team arrives in Juba

Gen. Gatwech (L) and Olony (R) inking the peace deal. (Courtesy photo)

A delegation of military officers of the SPLM-IO Kit-Gwang faction has arrived in South Sudan's capital of Juba today to follow up on the implementation of the Khartoum Peace Agreement signed last month.  

The Khartoum Peace Agreement, between President Salva Kiir's SPLM and the SPLM-IO Kit-Gwang group led by Gen. Simon Gatwech, provided for the integration of Kit-Gwang forces into the national army, the South Sudan People's Defense Forces.

James Kalany Mamuon, the press secretary in the interim president of Kit-Gwang told Radio Tamazuj that the military delegation in Juba is comprised of more than 30 members. 

"The delegation will be led by acting general Chan Ding. The delegation is composed of 31 members, all of them are military advance team. Those of Agwelek and those of SPLA-IO are all in one group and that is why we call them SPLM-IO kit-Gwang," Kalany said. 

Two weeks ago, an advance team of the Agwelek division also arrived in Juba to meet President Salva Kiir.

General Simon Gatwech Dual, head of the group, and General Johnson Olony, commander of the Agwelek forces, signed two separate agreements with the SPLM in Khartoum, Sudan.

According to the agreement, the government of South Sudan will facilitate the establishment of coordination offices in Juba, Malakal, and Bor to assist the process of assembling and reintegration of the Kit-Gwang faction.

The peace agreement also guarantees the implementation of the security arrangements, a permanent ceasefire, grants the Kit Gwang faction amnesty, containment, and reintegration of the breakaway SPLA-IO forces into the SSPDF within three months among others.