S. Sudan opposition leader wants forum on interim administration
May 17, 2015 (JUBA) – South Sudan’s main opposition leader, Lam Akol has advocated that a national conference be held on the way forward after the mandate of President Salva Kiir and his cabinet expires on 8 July, this year.
“We must have a national dialogue conference that will discuss the roadmap for peace and that conference will elect or appoint or agree a new government of national unity that is comprise of all the political parties,” he said.
Akol is the chairperson of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement for Democratic Change (SPLM-DC), a breakaway faction of the country’s ruling party (SPLM).
The opposition leader said the country’s next government cannot be run by the current regime, which had allegedly failed to provide service and perform its basic functions.
“It is time to put the national interest above individual ambitions. It cannot be this same government to go ahead as if it is business as usual. It cannot. They failed. Also said the recent extension of the term of office of the state governors for three years beyond the 9th of July is unconstitutional”, Akol told reporters in the capital, Juba on Saturday.
But the presidential advisor on decentralisation and intergovernmental linkages, Tor Deng Mawien dismissed claims that government had failed to provide basic services.
He disclosed that the South Sudan leader would form an all-inclusive government in July.
“The president has made it very clear that he is committed to bringing this conflict to an end. He indicated that he would form an all-inclusive government,” said Mawien.
“The next government, I hope, will represent all the key political forces in the country and the stakeholders. It will indeed be the government of national unity”, he added.
(ST)