source: Sudans Post; Small Arms Survey; Sudan Tribune
actor1: SPLM-In Opposition: Sudan People's Liberation Movement-In Opposition
actor2: N/A
location: Meganis
notes: Change to armed group: On 22 June 2021, the powerful Lou Nuer SPLM-IO Chief of Staff - General Simon Gatwech Dual - was reported to have been fired by SPLM-IO leader Riek Machar, following years of tensions which had escalated in recent months. The General, who is based in the disputed town of Meganis (Manyo county, Upper Nile state) was offered the position of Presidential Peace Advisor, which he declined. The move is likely to cause further deterioration within the SPLM-IO, following discord and defections over the past year and a half. Meetings among SPLM-IO dissidents in Meganis (including Lt. Gen. Johnson Olonyi) have been taking place since his dismissal, with the former IO Governor of Sobat Duer Tut in early July declaring himself in charge of the SPLM-IO in place of Riek Machar, in a move which Simon Gatwech has distanced himself from.