South Sudanese rebels accept demilitarisation of Juba: spokesperson
August 2, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) – South Sudan’s armed opposition faction (SPLM-IO) led by former vice president, Riek Machar, which has been fighting the government of president Salva Kiir for the past 20 months, said they would accept the element of the peace proposal by the East African regional bloc, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), which seeks to demilitarise the national capital, Juba.
The two principles will separately be commanders-in-chief of their respective armies, pending completion of the integration process. The two forces will begin to assemble 90 days after signing of a final peace agreement.
South Sudan’s capital, Juba is expected to be demilitarised and its security provided by international and regional forces. A radius of 25kms will be imposed for 30 months until the end of the transitional period. President Kiir will be allowed to have 260 soldiers as bodyguards while the armed opposition leader, Machar, will have 195 bodyguards.
“Yes, we have accepted demilitarisation of the national capital, Juba, during a transitional period. Actually our position is in this line, not only for the national capital but also for demilitarization of other state capitals and major towns in the country,” said Machar’s spokesman, James Gatdet Dak told Sudan Tribune when contacted by phone Sunday.
He said there was need to first make security sector reforms and transform the two rival armies into one professional army in the process of amalgamation during the transitional period. This, he said, would take place before national army could be able to take charge and provide security and protection for all citizens so as to avoid repeat of 15 December 2013 by either side.
“These security sector reforms and transformation processes will also apply to the other organized forces such as categories of the police and the national security service,” he added.
Dak dismissed claims by president Kiir’s government that demilitarisation of the national capital would amount to surrendering of the country’s sovereignty to foreign agents, arguing that this was to avoid similar massacres in the capital and other towns.
He also downplayed the feeling of sovereignty displayed by the government, saying they had already surrendered the country’s partial sovereignty to neighbouring Uganda.
“It doesn’t make sense for a regime that has partially surrendered sovereignty of South Sudan to Uganda to be falsely claiming patriotism and rejecting the proposal. Who is protecting Juba, its airport, and Bor in Jonglei state? Is it not a foreign force from Uganda?,” he inquired.
He said the IGAD-Plus proposal was good to ensure that no rival army would go on rampage again in the capital and other towns and start carrying out massacres such as the mass killing of Nuer civilians in mid-December 2013.
SPLM-IO KICKS OFF CONSULTATION IN PAGAK
The rebel leader’s spokesperson also reiterated that a leadership consultative meeting kicked off on Sunday in Pagak, contrary to comments by government officials that it would not take place.
“The previously announced leadership consultative meeting has kicked off in Pagak, South Sudan. Chairman and Commander-in-Chief of SPLM/SPLA, Comrade Dr. Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon, has officially opened it today, Sunday,” Dak told Sudan Tribune.
He said senior political and military officials, including representatives of the movement abroad took part in the opening.
Dak added that the meeting will study the IGAD-Plus peace proposal and come up with a position, which will be submitted to the mediation in Addis Ababa by 6 August.
(ST)