S. Sudan rebel official slams IGAD peace protocal
September 5, 2014 (KAMPALA) – A member of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) has described IGAD’s recent proposal to end the South Sudanese conflict as a “rough” document that hardly reflects the will of the two warring parties.
The draft document, presented by the mediators, provides guideline for discussions aimed at resolving the ongoing political differences in the country.
The protocol, signed by the government but rejected by rebels, threatened the warring parties with sanctions should they fail to implement an earlier cessation-of-hostilities agreement.
It proposes creation of a prime minister position to be filled by the person whose duties, functional roles and responsibilities will be negotiated by the warring parties and the other stakeholders.
However, the IGAD proposal stipulates that the prime minister will not be eligible for future elections after the interim administration.
“IGAD should given final endorsement to the nomination by SPLM/A, the prime minister should work harmoniously with the president. This means that at any one time, the president may wake up from his long sleep and abrogate the agreement by sacking the prime minister on the ground that he is not working harmoniously with him,” Oyet told Sudan Tribune on Friday.
He accused some IGAD member states of fueling the conflict instead of resolving it.
“The mother of all evil in the letter is the fallacy that the prime minister cannot run in any elections after the interim period. This is a mockery of democracy and abuse of human right of a person against which we are fighting,” the rebel official said.
“We have been fighting for political rights, against exclusion and marginalisation,” he added.
DICTATORIAL TENDENCIES
According to Oyet, the regional mediators approach was “dictatorial” in nature and only looked at keeping president Kiir in power at the expense of the millions of South Sudanese displaced by the conflict.
“As far as we are concern IGAD negotiated the protocol themselves they said they will sign and own it. May be it is good for their files and for future reference as some people learn through mistakes,” he said.
The rebel official, however, said the opposition was willing to negotiate with government in good faith within IGAD’s 45-day ultimatum, but insisted that it focuses on ending the conflict.
“The root causes of the conflicts must be addressed first in order to pave way for peace in South Sudan,” he said.
Oyet further warned those intending to undermine South Sudan’s sovereignty, saying the ongoing conflict in the young nation can only end if both warring parties reach a compromise.
Thousands of people have been killed and over a million displaced as a result of the ongoing conflict with aid agencies warning of possible outbreak of famine early next year should fighting continue.
(ST)