S. Sudanese VP downplays alleged rift with Salva Kiir

February 9, 2015 (JUBA) – South Sudan’s vice president James Wani Igga has denied claims he is unhappy with president Salva Kiir for not clearly stating his position on the proposal by the East African regional bloc (IGAD) to have the former replaced by rebel leader Riek Machar.

“I hear people trying to create one but assure you that there is nothing like that. We are united. We are working closely together,” Igga reportedly told national legislative assembly members on Sunday.

“These are rumours being created to cause confusion by enemies of peace and unity,” he said.

Mediators from the IGAD have proposed Machar as the first vice president to replace the incumbent Igga during the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGNU) period

A cabinet minister, however, told Sudan Tribune on Monday that the country’s vice president was indeed “unhappy” with IGAD’s proposal seeking to place him under the armed opposition leader.

“The vice president is actually unhappy with the proposal put forth by the IGAD. He feels the leadership has not done much that is why he resorted to mobilising support from his region,” said the minister, who preferred anonymity on the contentious matter.

“When he [Igga] learnt [of] the proposal from the media and quickly decided to call for an emergency meeting with governors from the Equatoria, the president was not aware,” added the minister.

According to the official, IGAD’s proposal will create concerns in the ruling party (SPLM).

“This is a sign of discontent, and I think it is a serious issue which the leadership is working on it to address with immediacy; otherwise it will develop into another political concern,” the minister said.

KIIR BACKS VP IGGA

The South Sudanese leader said appointing rebel leader Machar as the country’s first vice-president was unconstitutional, saying he should instead occupy another position.

“The transitional constitution is very clear. It has a provision of one vice president which is occupied by comrade James Wani Igga. The IGAD (Intergovernmental Authority on Development) proposal seeks creation of the first vice president position for Riek,” Kiir said at the inauguration of a new building in Juba on Wednesday.

“We said our constitution does not allow but if it is because of peace, we say the arrangement should not be at the expense of the current vice president and I will not be ready to violate the constitution,” he added.

The South Sudanese leader further said his administration was totally against the culture of rewarding those who rebel against a democratically-elected government.

“The culture of people staging rebellion as a way to get appointment into senior government positions will not continue,” said Kiir.

“People who rebel should not continue to be rewarded because it is becoming a business,” added the president during the event also attended by his deputy.

(ST)