Juba accuses opposition of pursuing tribal agenda
September 26, 2014 (JUBA) – The South Sudanese government under the leadership of resident Salva Kiir has dismissed opposition efforts aimed at introducing democratic reforms as “wishful thinking”, describing it as a “a political ploy to install a tribal government”.
He referred to the government’s efforts to quash an armed rebellion led by former vice-president Riek Machar, which erupted in mid-December last year after a political rift in the country’s ruling party (SPLM) plunged the country into violence.
“Our objective in fighting this war is simple and has been clearly stated from day one and it will remain so. This government was democratically elected by the people of this country and the time for elections has not yet come,” said Lomuro.
“The people and their government have the right to defend it and protect the constitution,” he added.
Lomuro, who also heads the South Sudan Democratic Forum (SSDF), one of the political parties in the government, expressed his party’s unwavering support to the government.
“You know very well the level of damage and destruction this senseless war of Riek Machar and his group has caused this country. It has returned us to square one and we will have to start from scratch again like we did in 2005,” said Lomuro, referring to the end of the more than two-decade-long civilw ar with the norty, which ultimately led to the South breaking away.
CALLS FOR INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT
He said it was time the international community extended its support to the government’s efforts to address the crisis within the framework of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), a regional bloc mediating peace talks in neighbouring Ethiopia.
“This government has a will to bring to an end this senseless war and it is high time the international community build consensus around the IGAD peace process, especially efforts to support the talks on the basis of the protocol of agreed principles,” said Lomuro, warning the failure to take decisive action would see the country plunge further into crisis.
“The support of the region and the international [community] is very vital because we believe that the world cannot wait for this country to slip back into destructive conflict, because of the policy of apportioning blame,” he added.
POLITICAL PLOY
Lomuro described the opposition’s calls for a pro-democratic reform government was motivated by a tribal agenda.
“The people who are now talking of reforms are rhetorically saying it as a ploy to come back to the government. It is not that they mean business. If they mean it, what prevented them when they were in the government to champion these reforms?” he said.
“I think the intention behind this political rhetoric is to promote[a] tribal agenda which I think nobody can allow that. There can never be a government formed on tribal agenda. It will be a dangerous precedent if we will allow this to happen,” he added.
Daniel Awet Akot, senior member of the (SPLM and close ally of the president, told Sudan Tribune in a separate interview on Friday that the ruling party and the government remains fully committed to bringing peace to the country through peaceful dialogue, pointing out the conflict had caused “great damage to social fabrics and peaceful coexistence among various communities”.
Meanwhile, the speaker of the national parliament, Manese Magok Rundial, has stressed that anybody who blocks efforts to restore peace in the country should be treated as an enemy of the people and must be dealt with accordingly.
He also reiterated the parliament’s support to the people of South Sudan and the government’s efforts to resolve the crisis.
(ST)