Salva Kiir’s contradicting statements on CPA implementation

By Tut Gatwech

October 6, 2007 — It is very disturbing to hear the First Vice President of the Sudan, President of the Government of Southern Sudan, SPLM Chairman and Commander-in-Chief of the SPLA, General Salva Kiir Mayardit, contradicting himself or having double face when issuing statements on the progress or challenges faced in the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).

In his recent speech during the opening of the second session of the Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly in Juba, General Kiir warned that Sudan would likely go back to war if the National Congress Party (NCP) continued not to implement the outstanding issues in the CPA. He enumerated these issues which included the NCP’s rejection of the report of the Abyei Boundary Commission and delay in establishment of its administration, Sudan Armed Forces refusal to withdraw from the oil-rich states of Unity and Upper Nile, delay in the demarcation process of the North-South Boundary and lack of transparency in the oil revenues from the South‘s oil wells.

Few days later he flew to Khartoum, and when asked by the press in the presence of President Omer Hassen el-Beshir on the same issues, General Salva Kiir categorically denied these and said there were no any differences between the NCP and the SPLM in the implementation of the CPA. This surprising statement, which left Southern Sudanese to raise many questions than answers, was distributed via internet all over the world. I was also told that it was announced to the public in Juba over the Southern Sudan Radio and TV Broadcasting services as well as over other broadcasting media in the country.

Back to Juba, General Kiir met with the American Special Envoy to Sudan, Andrew Natsios, who probably went to Juba to confirm General Kiir’s statement issued in Khartoum. In the meeting, General Kiir lamented on the NCP’s differences with the SPLM in the implementation of the CPA and accused the NCP of not implementing the deal. He also addressed the First SPLM Women League this week in Juba in which he again accused the NCP of not implementing the above mentioned issues. General Kiir also told a group of International Wise Elders led by South African Arch-Bishop, Desmond Tutu and former US President, Jimmy Carter, on Tuesday in Juba, that the NCP has no political will to implement the CPA. He again detailed out the above mentioned issues as not implemented by the NCP.

Why is General Kiir telling the Southerners one thing in Juba and saying a different thing when in Khartoum with Omer el-Beshir.

This attitude is sending a very bad message to the NCP and also to the international community. Southerners will now begin to doubt that what their President tells them in Juba is not what he faces Beshir with in Khartoum. The same goes to the NCP leaders who will not take seriously whatever Salva Kiir says in Juba because he will deny it in Khartoum. The international community, particularly those who are keen to follow up the implementation of the CPA, will be confused by these contradicting statements of General Kiir.

President Kiir should get brave enough to stick to the SPLM position and interpretation of the CPA implementation and to rightly express this position or view no matter which location he finds himself in.. He has been known to be a courageous fighter during the bush liberation struggle and therefore should continue with the spirit. However, this should not amount to him declaring war on NCP at this stage, but he should remain steadfast and tell to the whole world exactly what the NCP is doing to the CPA whether in Khartoum or in Juba.

* The author is a former member of the SPLA ‘Red Army.’ He can be reached at: [email protected]