Presidential Press Secretary Ateny Wek Ateny said that Tut Kew Gatluak, NPTC chairman and security adviser to President Salva Kiir, saved South Sudan from collapsing.

While interviewed on an online TV show, Ateny defended Tut’s loyalty to the country when the interviewer asked Ateny if Tut, a former Bashir’s ruthless National Congress Party member, is loyal to SPLM and South Sudan.

“What is making Someone[refering to Tut Gatluak] who is loyal to NCP, helping South Sudan in a critical point when South Sudan would have collapsed if he did not contribute into it,” Ateny said.

Ateny continued and said that Tut had switched allegiance from NCP to SPLM.

In 2013, Tut Kew Gatluak joined the SPLM party in Juba, and since then, has become an influential member of SPLM.

While speaking to Sudan Tribune, Kuol Mayang said that President Kiir nominates Tut Gatluak to become an SPLM’s Political Bureau member,  the party’s highest decision-making organ.