S. Sudanese rebels downplay reconciliation talks between government and former detainees
November 19, 2014 (ADDIS ABABA) – South Sudanese opposition faction led by former vice-president Riek Machar said they were not surprised by the recent “isolated” reconciliation talks between president Salva Kiir’s government and former detainees, often known as G-10.
The weekend talks were organised in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, by president Yoweri Museveni, who urged the two sides to renew their commitment to ending the country’s more than 11-month-long conflict or risk being branded as “trouble makers” in the region.
A presidential aide told Sudan Tribune on Monday that the talks focused on internal reconciliation and unification within the SPLM, with Museveni, calling on the rivals to put aside their differences and work towards restoring peace.
It is not clear why Machar’s faction was not invited to take part in Kampala’s reconciliation initiative, which seemed to imitate the Arusha initiative by Tanzanian ruling party.
However, the rebel group said the Ugandan initiative was not surprising, adding that it was okay if the former detainees would join either side of the warring parties.
“Our leadership has no objection to such a reconciliation initiative if it will help achieve objectives which the former detainees have been trying to pursue. It is better that they join one of the warring parties so that confusion is avoided,” Machar’s spokesman, James Gatdet Dak, told Sudan Tribune when contacted on Tuesday.
He said the former detainees have been trying to claim they were neutral in the South Sudanese conflict despite the fact that they were with Machar in the call for political reforms prior to 15 December crisis, adding that they also ended up in prison for many months as president Kiir accused them of allegedly staging a failed coup with the former vice president.
Dak said the “isolated” reconciliation process under Museveni’s mediation would not affect the ongoing peace process mediated by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).
“No, we don’t think it will affect the ongoing IGAD mediated peace process. It may actually enhance it because if the former detainees will join with the government, their voice will become part of the government’s position. They will no longer claim a neutral voice or deeds in the process or conflict,” he said.
Juba has insisted that a leadership structure in the proposed power-sharing deal between the president and prime minister would also include vice-president and two deputies to the prime minister, hinting that the former detainees were eying the positions of the deputies.
However, Dak said the opposition group will not agree to the posts of the vice-president and the two deputies, saying they were unnecessary and prone to causing confusion in decision making.
“We will not accept this. Only the offices of the president and the prime minister shall comprise the top executive positions,” he said.
Some observers believe that the former detainees felt isolated in the peace process which tended to share powers between the government and the rebels and may therefore tactically opt to succumb to the government ahead of a peace agreement.
(ST)