S. Sudan opposition youth leader demands Kiir’s exit

October 21, 2014 (JUBA) – A South Sudanese youth leader from the armed opposition has demanded that president Salva Kiir exits power so that the country embarks on democratic reform processes.

“The future of South Sudan must be determined by its people, but Salva Kiir and the cliques of his relatives and friends who see themselves inseparable from the country stands in the way. They have brought down the country from using the abundant resources we have to develop and strive but have instead reduced it to a failing state,” Peter Mabior Riiny, deputy head of the armed opposition (SPLM-IO) youth league said in statement on Tuesday.

“He must go so that other people take over to unite the country and its people”, he added.

Peace, unity and stability, Riing stressed, can only co-exist in the country if president Kiir and his close allies stepped aside from power.

The youth leader was part of the opposition team that participated in the launch of internal dialogue for the various ruling party (SPLM) factions that was successfully concluded in Arusha, Tanzania.

“In the world over, when the leader made unforgivable mistake, he would step down and allow the citizens to choose another leader allowing the healing to take place, and South Sudan is not exceptional. We have seen Ukrainian President stepping aside when he allowed the killing of only 200 civilians. President Kiir had killed over 20, 000 civilians, why can’t he simply resign and go home? We are blaming those who died on both sides on his bad leadership”, said Riiny.

Any caring and visionary leader, he stated, would not have divided his people based on tribes for the sake of remaining in power and continues to claim the legitimacy after killing innocent people.

The youth leader claimed president Kiir was illegitimately in power, despite his overwhelming victory during the 2010 general elections.

“Those who are saying president Kiir was elected are not aware of what is happening or are ignorant of the facts surrounding his leadership”, he said.

Riing also wondered why some youth in the country were reluctant to join the rebellion to topple government and install what he called democratic leadership with strong vision and capable leadership.

“We are South Sudanese and we would not wish to be associated with tribes. We fought together during the 21 year war and voted overwhelmingly together as South Sudanese to create an independent state. Why would you want to kill the same people who liberated the country?” asked the youth leader.

“This is not acceptable to the right minded people and the youth [should] join the movement to change this mindset and reclaim the responsibility and the set the country on the right track”, he added.

Augustino Dut, who hails from Warrap state described Riing’s statement as “nonsense and backtracking efforts to return the country back to normal”.

“I think this is a desperate attempt to backtrack the efforts of the government and the international community to finding an amicable solution to this senseless war.

Obviously President Salva Kiir is going to step down and such calls would remain as wishful thinking,” Dut told Sudan Tribune on Tuesday.

He urged the South Sudanese rebels to halt fighting and embrace peace to enable the country prepare for the forthcoming elections.

(ST)