Kiir tells UN assembly Machar’s “impatience” to blame for conflict
September 27, 2014 (JUBA) – South Sudanese president Salva Kiir, who is attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York, has told the world body that the current crisis in the country came as a result of “impatience” by his former deputy and political rival, Riek Machar.
“My former vice-president Riek Machar was impatient. He wanted power by force and refused to wait for 2015 elections. He staged a failed coup,” Kiir said in his speech extended to Sudan Tribune.
President Kiir also accused Machar’s rebels of violating the agreements on Cessation of Hostilities since 23 January, assuring the UN body of his government’s commitment to negotiate a political settlement with the opposition faction of the Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement (SPLM-in-Opposition).
“My government has demonstrated its firm commitment to peace, has unreservedly honoured these Agreements, and is continuing to negotiate in good faith to find a peaceful solution to the conflict. However, the rebels have violated the Agreements too many times, and have refused to sign the Protocol Agreement, which is a crucially important document signed by the Heads of State and Government of IGAD, including myself as a party to the conflict”, he stressed.
He urge the international community to exert efforts on the rebels to sign the Protocol Agreement.
NO ETHNIC CONFLICT
The South Sudanese leader also told the UN assembly that the conflict in the young nation was purely a political struggle for power and not an ethnic conflict as reported.
He further said citizens displaced by the conflict, especially in the three states of Jonglei, Unity and Upper Nile, have sought refuge in the neighbouring States of Lakes, Warrap, Central Equatoria and Eastern Equatoria and in the neighbouring countries.
“These innocent victims of the conflict urgently need and deserve humanitarian assistance. We, therefore, thank the United Nations, the Government of Norway and the other stakeholders for organizing the donor conference in Oslo, Norway, in May 2014, to support our humanitarian needs,” remarked Kiir.
“My government is fully committed to render humanitarian access and has taken the necessary measures to facilitate access for humanitarian agencies”, he assured.
REBELS DISMISS KIIR’S ACCUSATIONS
However, SPLM-in-Opposition faction described president Kiir’s comments as “denials” which lacked “seriousness” to bring peace.
In a live interview with VOA immediately after Kiir’s speech, Machar’s spokesperson James Gatdet Dak said the speech did not deliver a new message of hope to end the war.
“Well, first I want to say his speech was full of denials and lacked seriousness,” Dak said Saturday.
The rebel leader’s spokesman dismissed the allegation, saying Machar was never impatient as alleged, adding his boss was pursuing a democratic political process in the ruling party (SPLM) before president Kiir interrupted the process by introducing violence on 15 December.
He accused president Kiir of previously rejecting requests for meetings of the ruling party (SPLM) leadership by his former secretary general, Pagan Amum, which was going to be a constitutional democratic process leading to the elections.
Dak further dismissed the coup attempt narrative saying the government already failed to sell it to the world, saying it lacked evidence and had no element of truth.
The rebel leader’s spokesperson also counter-accused the government of violating the cessation of hostilities agreement, arguing that government troops have captured many areas which were previously under the control of the rebels before 23 January, indicating that the government had been on the offensive against the opposition forces.
He however added that the SPLM-in-Opposition was committed to the peace process to reach a political settlement.
“But this should not be to endorse the status quo,” he said, criticising the IGAD protocol for trying to “endorse Kiir’s dictatorship.”
PEACE TALKS IN PROGRESS
Dak further told Sudan Tribune Saturday that there was little progress in the peace talks in the Ethiopian northern city of Bahir Dar as various committees of the parties were negotiating on proposals on security, governance and economy of the country.
He said the rebel faction was clear on how to bring about lasting peace in the country.
“On our side our negotiators are clear on a system that would apply in South Sudan in order to bring about a lasting peace, good governance and prosperity to the country,” Dak said, without giving details.
He added that a peace agreement would be reached soon provided the other party was “seriously” committed to the process.
(ST)