South Sudan VP reiterates commitment to peace
September 22, 2015 (JUBA) – South Sudanese vice president, Jame Wani Igga, said the government is committed to fully implement the peace agreement signed last month. Igga will be relegated to third position after former vice president Riek Machar, who will be made the first vice president according to the peace deal.
“Our people want to know our seriousness and genuine determination as a government to [implement] this peace [agreement],” said Igga, in a lengthy briefing.
“I appeal to this house, if there is anybody affected by this agreement to forget [his/her reservations],” he said.
President Kiir, in succumbing to heavy regional and international threats of sanctions on him and his government, signed the agreement nine days after rebel leader Machar and former detainee Pagan Amum.
While signing, the president issued a list of points as “reservations” including demilitarization of Juba and the authority of joint monitoring and evaluation that has a veto power over national affairs. He repeated those points last week in address to the nation.
Igga said the government has one choice after the president inked the peace accord, and that is to implement it. He previously criticized the reservations put forth by his government.
“There is no alternative, we must end the war. We want treatment for our country,” he said.
He decried the repeated relegation from senior position in a peace agreement to reunite the ruling SPLM party, referring to Machar’s split from SPLM in 1991 and a return in 2002 when Igga was pushed to the fourth position in hierarchy.
However, according to the SPLM historical hierarchy which the movement’s leaders have been referring to for reunifications, Igga has been junior to Machar.
While the two top rival leaders, Kiir and Machar, will share power and decision making process in the would-be formed transitional government of national unity in December, Igga will only participate when the two agree to invite him to their presidency meetings.
(ST)