S. Sudan opposition demand measures against information minister

October 3, 2014 (JUBA) – At least 11 South Sudanese opposition parties have demanded that Sudan government takes “necessary measures” against information minister Michael Makuei Lueth, who recently accused negotiators of bias.

Speaking at a news conference held in Juba on Friday, the leaders led by Lam Akol from Sudan People’s Liberation Movement for Democratic Change (SPLM-DC) expressed concerns over statements made by Lueth and published by various media outlets.

“The mediators have selfless and studiously guided this [peace] process very well and those who followed the peace talks will bear witness to this fact,” the opposition said in a statement.

“The lack of progress in the talks so far must be laid squarely at the door of the warring parties,” it added.

Lueth was quoted saying his government had lost confidence in chief mediator Seyoum Mesfin and suggested that the talks be moved to from Ethiopia to Kenya. The minister also accused the Troika countries of the US, UK and Norway of allegedly agitating for regime change in South Sudan.

Tens of thousand of people have died and nearly 1.5 million displaced since the conflict broke out late last year.

Last month, Akol who headed the opposition parties, was prevented by security operatives from traveling to Ethiopia for the sixth round of the talks, despite an invitation extended to him by the regional mediators.

A government-backed opposition leader currently represents opposition parties at the talks.

Akol said the main objective now was to reach a permanent peace agreement rather than blaming the mediators.

“The statement of the government’s spokesman can only be understood as unnecessary detraction from the search for peaceful settlement of the current armed conflict and can only confound an already complicated situation in the country,” stressed Akol on behalf of the other parties.

“We therefore call upon the government not only to distance itself from these statements but take the necessary measures to restore the damage already inflicted on the process by such unmeasured utterances,” he added.

South Sudanese government officials repeatedly declined to comment on Lueth’s recent comments.

(ST)