South Sudan accuses opposition leader of presidential ambition
September 5, 2014 (JUBA) – The South Sudanese government has claimed that the opposition leader of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement for Democratic Change (SPLM-DC) – the second largest political party in the country – is harbouring ambitions to be president of the proposed interim government.
“Lam Akol has every right to say that we (the government) are not serious [about the agreement] because he wanted to be the transitional president. So he is justified because we did not allow him to achieve his objective,” South Sudan’s information minister, Micheal Makuei Lueth, said on Friday.
“The document which we signed, we presumed it was the document which the systematic committee prepared and gave to IGAD, so when it was brought to the leaders of IGAD, we signed because we want peace by all means. We did not go to Addis in search for [government] positions, we went there in search for peace and any document that we believe will contribute in bringing peace, we will sign,” he added.
Lueth was reacting to comments last week by Akol in which he said he had no knowledge of the framework agreement.
“The text that the IGAD and president [Salva] Kiir signed didn’t come from us. It wasn’t developed by us. Nobody knows where it was brought from,” Akol told reporters after returning from talks between the rival parties and other stakeholders in Addis Ababa.
However, Lueth hit back at the claims, saying Akol denied any knowledge because he thought he would be the head of the transitional government.
IGAD has been attempting to broker a political settlement to the South Sudan crisis, which erupted in mid-December last year, pitting government troops against rebel forces aligned with former vice-president Riek Machar.
However, the document has also been strongly criticised by lead rebel negotiator Taban Deng Gai, accusing IGAD mediators of bias and describing the protocol of agreed principles as favouring the government.
On Monday, Machar, who was attending the 27th extraordinary session of the IGAD leaders’ summit devoted to discussing the crisis, declined to sign the document in its entirety, instead reaffirming his commitment to a January cessation of hostilities agreement.
Observers and his supporters say Machar refused to sign the complete document, which was signed by IGAD leaders, including president Kiir, as some clauses exclude his role in the transitional administration and bar him from aspiring for any public office in future national elections at the conclusion of the transitional period.
MACHAR UNLIKELY TO ACCEPT PM ROLE
The document states that the head of state and government, being also the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, will be the elected incumbent president, to be deputised by the vice-president.
According to the same protocol, “The prime minister shall be nominated by the SPLM/A in Opposition and shall be acceptable to the president,” although the prime minister will not be eligible for elections after the 30-month period expires.
Observers say this implies that Machar is likely to emerge as the country’s next and first ever prime minister should he be nominated by the rebel faction, forcing president Kiir to swallow his previous rejection to the creation of a prime ministerial position in his government.
However, analysts have observed that, if nominated, Machar would not be willing take up the position, given that it limits his ambition to participate in the next elections.
Meanwhile, Akol earlier pointed out restoring peace to the fragile nation depended on the commitment of two warring parties.
The opposition leader branded the government delegation as being “abusive” and showing disrespect to the mediation process.
“The government delegation didn’t do well. They need to change if they are to bring peace. They will have to work hard,” he told journalists.
“As a negotiator you don’t have to be abusive. You need not to quarrel, but be persuasive because you are up for a bargain,” Akol added.
Although consensus among all stakeholders on issues of governance may be difficult to achieve, he said all parties must concede that peace is a fundamental issue.
“As we know peace is a central issue to all; the political parties, rebels and government too. And no one party should have its self interest supersede the national interest if we really need peace,” the opposition leader said.
When asked to respond to accusations that he had held secret talks with Machar, Akol explained that his reason for going to Addis Abba was to talk to anyone involved in restoring peace in South Sudan, maintaining there was nothing particularly secretive about the talks.
“We were there to talk. As political parties we had to talk to all other parties. This is important because you will know their point of view and if there are different viewpoints that is when we have to make them understand to reach the compromise in order to have peace,” Akol said.
(ST)