SPLM-IO calls for reinstatement of sacked Defense minister

March 5, 2023 (JUBA) – South Sudan’s armed opposition faction First Vice President Riek Machar has called for reinstatement of the Defense and Veterans Affairs minister.

President Salva Kiir, in a decree announced on Friday evening, sacked Defense minister, Angelina Teny and swapped the position to his ruling party (SPLM).

The Defense ministry was allocated to the armed opposition (SPLM-IO) party, one of the main signatories to the September 2018 revitalised peace agreement.

The armed opposition faction (SPLM-IO), in an extraordinary meeting of the party’s Political Bureau on Saturday, Kiir violated terms of the peace accord.

“The Political Bureau condemns and rejects the unilateral removal of Hon. Angelina Teny as Minister of Defense and Veterans Affairs in violation of Article 1.13.1, which gives each party to the Agreement the power to remove its representatives in the Council of Ministers and nominate replacements by notifying the President,” the SPLM-IO said in a statement.

The group urged Kiir to revoke his move and reinstate the defense minister.

“In light of the above violations, the Political Bureau would like to point out that the RTGoNU [Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity] is founded on the premise of collegial collaboration in decision-making and continuous consultations within the presidency, between the President, the First Vice President and the four Vice Presidents, to ensure effective governance during the traditional period,” further stressed the statement.

In August last year, South Sudan’s parties to the September 2018 peace signed a roadmap extending the transitional period for 24 months, citing failure to complete critical benchmarks on the agreed time.

(ST)