One week before a scheduled signing of the peace deal that would have placed rebel leader Riek Machar once again in the seat of vice president, top rebel general Peter Gatdet has announced that he and other powerful commanders no longer support Machar.
General Peter Gatdet accused President Riek Machar of failing to keep the rebel ranks unified and using his position to seek personal gain.
“Therefore, any peace deal that [Machar] signs with the government of South Sudan will not be legitimate and will not be respected by the [rebel army], led by generals,” stated Gatdet, referring to the ongoing talks and the peace deal scheduled for next week.
Because opposition forces had lost confidence in Machar’s leadership, Gatdet said, Machar no longer held his title as commander and chief of the rebels.
Gatdet criticized Machar for becoming friendly with South Sudanese President Salva Kiir after being promised the vice presidency, and warned that any peace agreement signed without full support of the rebels would be likely to collapse.
“We strongly reject IGAD’s proposal that gives leadership of the transitional Government of National Unity to both President Kiir and Riek Machar. TGNU should be led by South Sudanese who have the country and its people at heart,” said Gatdet, referring to the East African trading bloc that had been mediating the deal.