South Sudanese presidency denies offer for internal reconciliation in SPLM

June 13, 2014 (JUBA) – The South Sudanese presidency dismissed as “malicious” reports that president Salva Kiir had accepted internal reconciliation within the leadership of the ruling Sudan People’s Liberations Movement (SPLM) reportedly at the expense of his close political allies.

“The Office of the President categorically rejects these malicious allegations against the President and therefore would like to condemn the lies being manufactured and engineered by the enemies of the Republic of South Sudan”, partly reads the statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Friday.

“The resident of the republic is a very serious peace-loving man, and had a lot to offer to those who have rebelled against his government – and so he does not need to dismiss someone in order to replace him/her with another,” it adds.

The statement was issued in reaction to media reports claiming Kiir heeded the demands at a meeting with the former SPLM political detainees in Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, on 10 June.

The allegations, widely circulated on social media and other forums claimed that the South Sudan leader agreed to reinstate the former detainees in their previous political positions.

Unconfirmed reports also alleged that the former SPLM secretary-general, Pagan Amum, would return to his position while the rest of his colleagues who served as government ministers would be re-appointed cabinet ministers.

While meeting the former political detainees, president Kiir allegedly agreed on their request to dismiss the army’s chief of staff, General Paul Malong Awan, information minister Michael Makuei Lueth, presidential legal advisor Telar Ring Deng and the country’s interior minister, Aleu Ayieny Aleu, on the grounds that they masterminded the conflict that has seen thousands killed and over a million people displaced

“This is not what the president has said. At the graduation ceremony of police held at Juba Stadium on Thursday after returning from Addis, Ababa, Ethiopia, he stated that he had met with four of the former political detainees, namely Pagan Amum, Deng Alor, Kosti Manebi, and John Luk in Addis Ababa, but he didn’t promise them any political position,” the statement from the presidency said.

“What the president did discuss with the former detainees, was his readiness to accept them to come back to Juba for the interest of peace. This is in response to the request of the former detainees who have requested to work with the president in order to achieve peace. So, there was no mention of anybody’s dismissal by the president as a pre-condition for the return of the former political detainees,” it added.

(ST).