South Sudanese parliament ratifies peace agreement with SPLM-IO
September 10, 2015 (JUBA) – South Sudan’s national legislative assembly has ratified the recently signed IGAD Plus compromise peace agreement between president Salva Kiir and Riek Machar, leader of the armed opposition faction of the governing Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO).
Prior to the swift endorsement, speaker of the parliament, Manasseh Magok Rundial, urged the members representing the two houses of the legislature to ratify the deal as presented by the minister of justice, pointing out that peace and stability of the country was paramount.
Speaker Rundial said it was necessary to swiftly ratify the peace deal, explaining that the process will give government a breathing space from being held responsible for delay to implement the accord.
“We should not delay this agreement because people are going around accusing us (the government) that we do not want this agreement,” said Magok, without naming any group spreading propaganda against Juba.
“By this joint house of the national legislature today adopted the agreement on the resolution of the conflict in the Republic of South Sudan 2015,” he said.
According to the peace agreement, the accord upon signature by parties be tabled before the parliament in Juba and national liberation council of SPLM-IO in Pagak within seven [7] days, but the ratification on Thursday was delayed and behind the schedule.
However, South Sudan’s minister of justice, Paulino Wanawilla, responsible for tabling before parliament the peace deal blamed the delay on IGAD for not availing the document to the government early enough.
“We (the government) received the agreement officially on 2nd of September. So if there is a seven days, the starting should be the 3rd of September going on,” said Wanawilla.
The minister explained that IGAD officials did not give the government a copy when president Kiir signed the agreement on 26 August in Juba. Rebel leader Machar and leader of former political detainee, Pagan Amum, signed on 17 August in Addis Ababa.
The opposition faction led by Machar was also expected to endorse the agreement in Pagak on Thursday or Friday.
The main opposition in government, the Sudan People’s liberation Movement for Democratic Change (SPLM-DC) led by Lam Akol also welcomed the parliamentary approval of the peace agreement, despite having not been allowed to sign the deal.
Deng Bior Deng, acting secretary general of the SPLM-DC, described the approval as a giant step towards ending the conflict in the country.
“Today, Thursday the 10th of September 2015, the National Legislature adopted the ‘Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan’ signed in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 17 August and [in] Juba [on] 26 August 2015. This is a giant step that will signal the beginning of the implementation process. We commend our Parliament for it. We hope that the National Liberation Council of the SPLM/A-IO will expeditiously do the same as required by Article 1 of Chapter VIII of the said agreement,” he told Sudan Tribune on Thursday.
He said the deal has received overwhelming support from the people of South Sudan and should be implemented in full.
“The peace agreement just adopted is a flickering light at the end of a long tunnel. It enjoys the backing of the masses of our people and the friends of South Sudan…” Deng added.
He called on the leadership of the main warring parties to instruct their forces to stop the war so as to forge ahead with sustainable peace.
“As this agreement is being adopted, cease fire is being violated in a number of areas including in and around Malakal, and innocent lives continue to be lost. We must bring all pressure to bear to stop the violators and make them understand that the price of non-compliance is extremely dear, here and the world after,” he further stressed.
FORCES TO RESPECT CEASEFIRE
Spokesperson of the government forces, Colonel Philip Aguer, told reporters on Thursday that their forces have been given clear instructions not to engage in further military offensive against the rebels.
Aguer accused the opposition fighters of amassing troops to attack the government held-territories.
“The rebels of Riek Machar have since yesterday been amassing their forces around Malakal, especially in the west bank of the Nile. They have embarked on provocative activities but our forces have been put under clear instructions to not respond to them but they have the right back only in self-defence when they are attacked,” said Aguer.
The intention of the rebels, he said, was to capture Malakal so that they could use it as one of their headquarters during transitional period.
Analysts and the residents note that statements attributed to senior military officers and government officials in Juba administration are attempts to deflect public attentions and cover activities of the government forces which have moved on rebel-held areas in the west bank of Malakal airport.
(ST)