3 Generals Fired in South Sudan for Declaring Machar Is Not Party Leader

JUBA , SOUTH SUDAN - Leaders of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO) fired three generals in the command of Upper Nile state this week, shortly after the generals declared First Vice President Riek Machar had been ousted as head of the SPLM-IO and as commander in chief of the Sudan People's Liberation Army-in Opposition (SPLA-IO).

Machar’s spokesperson said the decision to fire the generals was made Wednesday during an SPLM/A-IO leadership meeting in Juba. Those fired were former chief of staff General Simon Gatwech, General Johnson Olony of Sector One Command and General Thomas Mabor Dhoal of Sector Three Command. The meeting of the party’s political bureau and military leaders was called after the declaration Tuesday by Gatwech and some party commanders in Upper Nile state to oust Machar, according to Machar spokesperson Puok Both Baluang.