South Sudan presidency downplays possibility of disintegration

September 17, 2014 (JUBA) – South Sudan has downplayed opposition statements warning the country is at risk of disintegrating into ethnic enclaves if president Salva Kiir continues to defy calls for democratic reforms and a more inclusive policy on national affairs.

However, presidential spokesperson Ateny Wek Ateny described the statements as an attempt by rebels to lure South Sudanese to join the rebellion in order to achieve personal objectives.

He was reacting to comments by senior rebel commander General Dau Aturjong, who warned the country was in danger of splintering along ethnic lines should the government continue to ignore the strength and capabilities of those opposed to the Juba establishment.

“Dau should be informed that [the] people of South Sudan are not all jobseekers in order to rebel and take part in the most senseless rebellion led by group of jobseekers, just to save their face,” Ateny said, adding “The issue of ethnicity has no space in this conflict”.

The South Sudanese government and rebel forces aligned with former vice-president Riek Machar have been engaged in brutal armed struggle since mid-December last year after a political rift in the ruling party (SPLM) turned violent, sparking tribal tensions across the country.

Peace talks between the government and Machar’s SPLM in Opposition faction have so far failed to yield a lasting political solution to the crisis.

In comments to Sudan Tribune on Sunday, Dau appealed for public support, urging South Sudanese people to distinguish between the objectives of the opposition movement and government propaganda.

“We urge our people to see the differences between Dr Riek Machar, who has accepted to take the challenge to champion the cause of the movement, and the propaganda of the government,” Dau said.

“They have to make [a] clear distinction and join the movement earnestly, so that we all rescue the country from disintegrating into ethnic enclaves,” he added.

However, Ateny maintains that South Sudan’s leadership is committed to governing for the people and that it is the SPLM in Opposition that is “tribally set”.

“Dau is losing hope. He cannot invite people to death for no good cause,” Ateny told Sudan Tribune on Wednesday.

(ST)