Africa-Press – South-Sudan. South Sudan’s presidency spokesman Ateny Wek Ateny has claimed that South Sudan would have collapsed had it not been presidential advisor on security affairs Tut Gatluak helping in its peace efforts following the outbreak of war in December 2013, saying Tut is an important pillar of South Sudan’s stability today.
This comes days after Senior Presidential Advisor Kuol Manyang Juuk said in an interview with a local radio station that Tut is about to be admitted into the SPLM Political Bureau along with former finance minister Deng Athorbei.
Speaking in an interview with a local YouTube channel, Ateny said war-torn South Sudan, the world’s youngest country which descended into a deadly conflict in December 2013, would have collapsed without the help of Tut Gatluak dismissing speculations that Gatluak is advancing NCP (National Congress Party) agenda in South Sudan.
“If Tut Gatluak is a member of the National Congress Party, what is making someone who is loyal to NCP helping South Sudan in a critical point when South Sudan would have collapsed if he did not contribute into its peace efforts,” Ateny asked.
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.
