South Sudan rebels agree to accept non-executive president
By Tesfa-Alem Tekle
December 12, 2014 (ADDIS ABABA) – In an unexpected move, South Sudanese rebel faction of the Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO) led by former vice-president, Riek Machar, on Friday passed a resolution agreeing to share power with Juba government on conditions that the would-be prime minister has full executive powers.
Many top generals in the past expressed their rejection to a power-sharing arrangements that would make president Salva Kiir remain as head of state during a transitional period.
Reached by phone, Nyarji Roman, Machar’s deputy spokesperson told Sudan Tribune that the conference has decided that Salva Kiir could remain as president, but executive powers are not shared with the president, explaining that the president will only be a ceremonial head of state while the prime minister heads the government.
Juba has previously agreed to share power with the break-away group if the prime minister who is to be nominated by rebels takes a non-executive position.
Kiir’s government also rejected adoption and implementation of federal system of governance during the transitional period under a Transitional Government of National Unity.
However, the rebel conference resolved that a federal system of government will be adopted and implemented from the transitional period and with critical reforms that will overhaul the current system.
“The TFGONU shall undertake critical reforms affecting all government institutions during the transitional period at the national and state levels,” partly reads the resolutions, making the counter-resolutions by the rebel group totally opposite to Juba’s oppositions.
Roman further said the conference has rejected proposed positions for a vice president and deputy vice presidents.
The rebel leadership meeting has also agreed on introducing federal system of governance based on 21 states.
The conference discussed and debated on peace process, Arusha Intra-SPLM dialogue, SPLM basic documents and reports from the various committees.
The conference endorsed the continuation of peace talks and Arusha intra-party dialogue.
It called on IGAD mediators to be impartial in the peace process and warned Juba not to continue to violate the cessation of hostilities agreement between the two warring parties.
The first biggest conference to be held by the opposition faction attracted over one thousand delegates comprising SPLM leadership council, top military officials, traditional leaders, representatives from the Diaspora, as well as civil society organizations and faith-based groups.
IGAD secretariat and foreign observers were also in attendance.
The assembly which initially was supposed to kick off on Friday last week was delayed till Monday after Juba allegedly warned to shoot down rebel allied planes flying in its air space.
However delegates were able to arrive to the venue after IGAD officials’ met and convinced authorities in Juba to allow flights.
MACHAR UNANIMOUSLY ENDORSED
The rebel leader, Machar, was unanimously endorsed as the Chairman and Commander-in-Chief of the SPLM/SPLA by all the delegates in the conference.
The conference “reaffirms total and undivided loyalty to the leadership of Dr Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon and the SPLM/SPLA,” reads the first resolution in the communique released on Friday.
Machar has led the rebel movement for the last 12 months and has since been fighting the government led by president Salva Kiir Mayardit.
He is expected to structure the military leadership during the Pagak conference, with rebel sources telling Sudan Tribune that the rebel leader and his top army generals would remain behind in Pagak for few days in order to streamline the military leadership.
(ST)