South Sudan holdout groups oppose security bill, vow to quit
July 8, 2024 (JUBA)- South Sudan’s hold-out groups negotiating with the government of President Salva Kiir in Kenya have threatened to quit the peace process, citing the controversial passing of the country’s security law.
The group, in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune, argued that rushing to pass the bill undermines the peace process and efforts to reform the security sector.
“The opposition will not sign any agreement with the R-TGONU [Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity] until the National Security Service Act is repealed as agreed in the Tumaini Initiative. The National Security Service must be reconstituted into a civilian National Intelligence Service with the mandate to gather intelligence without powers of arrest, detention, and interference in the political processes. The rush by the R-TGONU to push this Act through its rubberstamp parliament is intended to undercut the peace process in Nairobi and we consider this an act of bad faith”, reads the statement reads in part.
Paul Malong Awan, leader of South Sudan United Front, Pagan leader of the Real SPLM -Sudan People’s Liberation Movement) Gen Stephen Buoy Rolnyang, chairman of South Sudan National Alliance and chairman and commander in chief of South Sudan People’s Movement/Army.
Another signatory of the statement is General Mario Loku Thomas Jada, the chairman of the National Salvation Front-Revolutionary Command Council.
The armed opposition group participating in the Kenyan-led mediation said the country was facing many crises deeply rooted in bad governance and human rights violations, and no agency in South Sudan has deviated from its constitutional mandate more than the National Security Service.
“This agency has reproduced the archaic Khartoum regime in Juba, and it has instituted a reign of terror and intimidation. Therefore, the democratic gains made by the people of South Sudan through the 2011 Referendum and Declaration of Independence; the ideals our people fought for have all been quashed using the National Security Service. It is utterly shocking that a parliament that purports to represent the people could be intimidated into giving such a notorious agency the power to terrorize our people and burry their hopes for freedom and the rule of law”,
The statement also rejected the decision of the National Elections Commission (NEC) declaring December 22, 2024 as the country’s election date, describing it as an act of bad faith. The Tumaini Initiative will not run on the timelines of the R-ARCSS, it will come out with a timetable consistent with the agreed programs and activities. Thus, to preempt this process with the announcement of arbitrary election dates tells a consistent story: that of lack of good faith, lack of political will, and persistent disregard for binding agreements and the law.
The group assured that they will not entrust the constitution-making process only in the hands of the authoritarian regime which has been operating outside its very transitional constitution and delayed the permanent constitution-making process for over a decade. The regime lacks moral legitimacy, and it shall not be allowed to deny the people their democratic aspirations We also want to categorically state that the Tumaini Initiative is not about the implementation of the R-ARCSS, but rather about agreeing on a Rescue Plan to avoid the disintegration and descent of South Sudan into chaos. The truth is that the Tumaini Initiative will produce a new agreement with strong implementation mechanisms to usher South Sudan into a permanent peace and new democratic dispensation. It explained the agreement that will come through the Tumaini Initiative will end the self-perpetuating clause of the R-ARCSS. We will not sign an agreement that allows the Parties to the R-ARCSS to give themselves more time in office without delivering on their promises to serve and hand over power to the people.
The statement continued: We strongly believe that a combination of security sector transformation, national reconciliation and healing, and the making of a permanent constitution in South Sudan will lift the country out of the abyss.
“We, therefore, call upon the people of South Sudan to protect the Tumaini Initiative to achieve peace and democratic transformation in the country,” it said.
The group urged the government and President Kiir in particular, to exercise leadership and cease unilateral actions that undermine the peace negotiations.
Further appeals were made to the region and the international community at large to continue supporting the Tumaini Initiative and its outcome and to bring pressure to bear on the spoilers of peace, adding, “We implore the mediation to restore the multi-stakeholder negotiation platform that includes the PCCA and other Stakeholders to maintain the inclusive nature of the peace talks”.
(ST)