Africa-Press – South-Sudan. South Sudan’s presidential security advisor Tutkew Gatluak along with former finance minister Deng Athorbei are set to be appointed into membership of the Political Bureau of the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) party, Senior Presidential Advisor Kuol Mayang has said.
Tutkew is previously a member of the National Congress Party (NCP) led by former Sudanese President Omar Hassan Ahmed Al Bashir, but returned with former SPLA deputy commander in chief General Paulino Matip Nhial Nyah to South Sudan in 2006 when Kiir signed with Matip the Juba Declaration to join the SPLA.
He has been in the country since then and was appointed to the security advisory role in May 2016 following the signing of the 2016 peace agreement between First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny and President Salva Kiir Mayardit following three of a devastating conflict.
Speaking in an interview with a local radio, Kuol Manyang said Deng Athorbei and Tut Gatluak were becoming members of the SPLM Political Bureau praising them for their work within the ruling SPLM party saying Tut has been helpful to the SPLM since joining the group in 2016 along with Paulino Matip Nhial.
“Deng Athorbei has been a member of the SPLM for a very long time since the liberation and has been doing a very good work on the side of finance,” he said of South Sudan’s former finance minister.
“Tut Gatluak had just come in to the movement and has also been helpful. Tut Gatluak was a member of the National Congress and declared his joining of the SPLM and for a long time he has been there since 2006 when the Juba Declaration was made and now is monitoring the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement,” he added.
Separately, a senior member of the SPLM party confirmed to Sudans Post the incorporation of the two senior officials into the party’s most important decision maker.
“Yes Comrade Tut Gatluak and comrade Deng Athorbei will become members of the SPLM Political Bureau. Preparations and consultations have been made and President Salva Kiir who is also the chairman of the SPLM party is expected to issue directives,” the official who requested not to be named said.
