Machar hints party may act against S. Sudan’s Kiir over repeated violations
November 25, 2013 (JUBA) – South Sudan’s former vice-president, Riek Machar, has warned of a possible party decision against chairman and president Salva Kiir over constitutional “violations” unless the latter reversed his current trend.
Kiir said he did not dissolve the party, but that the SPLM dissolved itself due to its failure to hold the national convention in May this year.
Reacting to statements by Machar calling for his resignation, Kiir said on Sunday, “The history and our people [will] judge who should leave the SPLM”.
The president made the remarks during a committee meeting to reorganise the party’s structures.
Machar, the first deputy chairman of the SPLM, said on Monday Kiir was acting in violation of the party’s constitution, accusing him of relying on the minority view of three members, while taking the rest of the majority “for granted”.
“The chairman had no constitutional right to dissolve the party structures because of delays in convening a national convention”, he said.
The country’s Political Bureau (PB) reduced to some 19 members, down from 27, after the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) split from the party in the wake of South Sudan’s independence in 2011.
Machar said that Kiir was making decisions in consultations with only three PB members, namely new vice-president James Wani Igga, MP Daniel Awet Akot and defence minister Kuol Manyang Juuk.
The former vice-president claims Kiir should have also dissolved his position since he too is part of its structures.
“If he dissolved the party structures then what made him to remain as chairman since he is part of the same structures”, Machar said.
He has warned that such a trend may result in the PB’s majority taking a decision against the chairman’s “paralysing” actions.
Machar also questioned whether Kiir was working towards splitting the historical movement using a “minority view”.
Observers fear the continued tit-for-tit exchange of accusations between the two SPLM leaders could fuel tensions and spark unrest in the new nation.
They say the SPLM leadership should cultivate the spirit of national unity, and seek to engage in dialogue to resolve conflicts and ensure the stability of the country.
(ST)